Manali tourism body authorizes IDFC First Bank to collect green tax through FASTag
Tourism Development Council Manali has authorized IDFC First Bank to collect green tax through FASTag from motorists entering the city at toll plazas.
About 50 lakh tourists visit the hill town of Himachal Pradesh every month.
Tourism Development Council Manali and IDFC First Bank on Thursday launched payment of green tax using FASTag in the hill city. This is for the first time that the automatic toll collection system will be used to pay green tax in the country.
IDFC First Bank said in a statement that it will make such payments in Manali cashless and convenient for motorists.
As of now FASTag is being used for payment of toll, fuel and parking charges.
Presently, IDFC First Bank is the largest acquirer serving over 400 toll plazas, and has issued around 6 million FASTags. And, on an average, around 20 lakh transactions per day are done by motorists using the bank’s tag.
B Madhivanan, Chief Operating Officer, IDFC First Bank said that India is on a new front when it comes to digitization of transit-related payments. He said it would simplify and speed up payments for motorists.
“We have extended the benefits of RFID technology to pay for fuel and parking using FASTag. We are happy to partner with Tourism Development Council Manali to introduce FASTag for the first time for payment of green tax, making it cashless.”
Kullu Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Garg said that the introduction of FASTag facility for green tax collection is an initiative of IHMCL, NPCI and IDFC First Bank along with district administration and TDC Manali.
He said that it will facilitate seamless transactions, reduce human interface and encourage digital transactions along with saving time.
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