Manali tourism agency approves IDFC first bank to collect green tax via FAST card
The Manali Tourism Development Council has authorized IDFC First Bank to collect green taxes in FASTag from motorists entering the city at toll booths.
The hill city in Himachal Pradesh is visited by around 500,000 tourists every month.
On Thursday, the Manali Tourism Development Council and IDFC First Bank launched the green tax payment by FASTag card in the hill city. This is the first time the automatic toll collection system has been used to pay green taxes across the country.
IDFC First Bank said in a statement it will make payments cashless and convenient for motorists in Manali.
So far, FASTag is being used to pay tolls, petrol and parking fees.
Currently, IDFC First Bank is the largest acquiring bank, serving more than 400 toll stations and has issued about 60,000 FAST cards. And, the transactions of car drivers using bank cards on average are about 200,000 a day.
B Madhivanan, chief executive officer of IDFC First Bank, said India is at a new frontier when it comes to digitizing payments related to public transport.
“We have extended the benefits of RFID technology to payments for fuel and parking with FASTag. We are delighted to partner with the Manali Tourism Development Board to introduce FASTag for the first time for green tax payments, making it cashless,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner Kullu Ashutosh Garg said the introduction of the FASTag facility for green tax collection was an initiative of the county government and TDC Manali along with IHMCL, NPCI and IDFC First Bank.
It will facilitate seamless transactions, reduce the human interface and save time and encourage digital transactions, he said.
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