ICICI Bank and Google Pay enable FASTag issuance via UPI

By Megha Bhattacharya

ICICI Bank has collaborated with Google Pay in a bid to facilitate the issuance of FASTag through UPI on the payments app. FASTag is owned by Indian Highways Management Company Ltd. (IHMCL). IHMCL along with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) aim to digitise state and national highway toll payments with the recent collaboration as well as expand the use of FASTag.

Mr. Sajith Sivanandan, Business Head, Google Pay said, “NETC FASTag is an important milestone in bringing the efficiencies of digital payments into transit and making interstate travel frictionless. We are very pleased to be joining hands with ICICI Bank to extend the facility of NETC FASTag purchase to millions of users across India through Google Pay. This is a great example of an entire ecosystem working in concert to bring ease and convenience to the lives of users in a very tangible way.”

The partnership will enable Google Pay users to order, track and recharge their ICICI Bank FASTag digitally via UPI. ICICI claims to be the first bank in the country to team up with Google Pay for FASTag issuance. The Bank has recently incorporated FASTag at Mumbai toll plazas and parking zone at GMR Hyderabad International Airport. It was also responsible for launching FASTag nationally on the Mumbai-Vadodara corridor in 2013.

Mr. Sudipta Roy, Head- Unsecured Assets, ICICI Bank said, “With the increased adoption of digital payments in all walks of life, we believe that this collaboration will help Google Pay users to apply for a new FASTag through UPI and get it delivered free of cost at their door step. The association comes handy for Google Pay customers, even if they are not customers of ICICI Bank, during the pandemic as it allows them to order and receive FASTag in a seamless and contact-less manner.”

“With this, ICICI Bank has achieved another feat in the FASTag ecosystem by introducing inter-operability between banks on a digital payments platform like Google Pay. We believe that this initiative will go a long way in increasing adoption of FASTag for toll payments.”

According to ICICI Bank, users can get avail FASTag service via Google Pay app. Customers will need to provide their PAN, RC Copy, vehicle number and address details for processing payments for their orders. They can also avail FASTag using the Bank’s digital channels of banking including internet banking, iMobile app, InstaBIZ app, Pockets app or by visiting their nearest bank branch. The tag can be reloaded with funds seamlessly online using the Bank’s internet banking, UPI and NEFT platforms.