New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS): The government Tuesday launched an electronic toll collection (ETC) programme in the country under the brand name "FASTag".

According to the Ministry of Road and Highways, ETC entails payment of highway tolls electronically without needing to halt the vehicle at the toll plazas.

"The unique number of the RFID (radio-frequency identification) tag affixed on the wind shield of the vehicle will be read by the readers fitted in the dedicated 'ETC' lanes of plazas and appropriate amount as per the class of vehicle will be automatically deducted from the account of the user," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry has roped in ICICI bank and Axis bank for providing central clearing house (CCH) services and to distribute RFID based "FASTag" through their franchises at points of sales near the toll plazas.

Similar type of highway tag brands are common in developed countries and are known by different names like "Eazee Pass", "SunPass" in the US, "e-Pass" in Australia, and "Salik" in Dubai.