Is govt planning FASTag for railway parking? Here’s what Ashwini Vaishnaw said

The Indian Railways has not implemented the FASTag system for parking facilities at railway stations but has advised zonal railways to adopt digital payment methods and automation to enhance transparency and efficiency in fee collection, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that parking charges at railway stations are collected as per rates prescribed by the Railway Administration. While the FASTag system is not in place, measures such as digital payments, automated entry and exit, and automated fee receipts are being encouraged wherever feasible.

BJP MP Rajkumar Chahar asked whether the Ministry of Railways had considered implementing FASTag—a radio-frequency identification system widely used for toll collection—to streamline parking operations at stations.

“In order to enhance transparency and efficiency in fee collection, zonal railways have been advised to undertake measures like digital payment facility (cashless) through various digital methods, automated entry and exit, automated fee receipt, etc wherever feasible,” the minister said.

“At present, there is no FASTag system for parking facility at stations.”

Addressing Chahar’s query on data collection, Vaishnaw said periodical surveys are conducted to monitor vehicle numbers, supplemented by parking coupon records, to aid planning and policy formulation.

The minister noted that rate lists are prominently displayed at parking sites and digital payments are being promoted.

“The performance of the parking contractors is regularly monitored and suitable penal action, as incorporated in the parking contract agreement, is taken against the contractors whenever any irregularities like overcharging etc. are noticed,” he said.

Vaishnaw further stated that the Railways conducts surveys before allotting parking contracts to assess existing space and vehicle inflow.

To manage congestion, duration-based entry fees are levied to regulate traffic and curb unauthorised parking.