India’s RFID Pioneer i-TEK Marks Silver Jubilee, Launches Panchajanya Experience Centre in Pune

• i-TEK Celebrates 25 Years of Excellence in RFID & IoT; Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari Launches ‘Panchajanya Experience Centre’ at i-TEK Headquarters
• From powering 1 in every 2 vehicles in India with FASTag to securing exports at 105 ports and from tagging and tracing library books to 300 core apparel in retail, i-TEK marks 25 years of innovation
• Launches GarudaVigil, an AI-powered IoT Cloud Platform harnessing the power of IoT for supply chain traceability and inventory count, exemplifying reliability, agility, and unwavering attention.
• i-TEK announces IPO roadmap and global expansion plans at Silver Jubilee event. 
• Shri Nitin Gadkari praises i-TEK’s innovations in RFID container tracking and anti-counterfeiting, calling technology-driven transparency vital for nation-building  

Infotek Software & Systems Pvt. Ltd. (i-TEK), India’s pioneering RFID and IoT solutions company, celebrated its Silver Jubilee with a landmark event at its headquarters in Pune. The occasion was graced by Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, as the Chief Guest and General Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Former Chief of Army Staff, as the Guest of Honour. The event was graced by dignitaries from across industry, academia, government and media, joined by i-TEK’s valued customers and partners, all uniting to mark the company’s 25-year journey of innovation and contribution to the nation.

Over the past 25 years, i-TEK has grown from a modest Pune-based startup into one of India’s most trusted names in RFID Systems and Solutions. The company has been central to several national technology transformations, from pioneering the rollout of FASTag, which today powers every second vehicle in India that carries a FASTag manufactured by i-TEK, to introducing RFID-enabled container eSeals that secure exports across 105 ports and Inland Container Depots. Its solutions have also revolutionized retail and warehousing by reducing inventory cycles from months to just days, while enabling the tracking and tracing of over 300 crore objects annually across industries such as logistics, oil & gas, mining, utilities and manufacturing. With its consistent focus on innovation and nation-building, i-TEK has established itself as a true homegrown leader in India’s digital infrastructure journey.

Addressing the gathering, Hon. Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, commended i-TEK’s role in India’s technology-led transformation. In his address, he said, “The introduction of RFID and FASTag has been truly transformative. What was once a frustrating experience of long queues and inefficiency at toll plazas has now become seamless, saving citizens time, money and fuel while also boosting government revenue through transparency. i-TEK and its founder, Ashim Patil, have played a pioneering role in making this possible and their innovations in RFID container tracking and anti-counterfeiting solutions are strengthening India’s logistics, exports and markets. Technology like this is nation-building, it brings transparency, efficiency and fairness, while reducing delays and leakages. I was delighted to inaugurate the Panchajanya Experience Centre today, which showcases world-class solutions developed by Indian engineers and entrepreneurs. With such innovation and talent, I am confident that India will not only lead in digital infrastructure but also become the world’s number one automobile and technology hub in the years ahead. I extend my congratulations to Ashim Patil, Avantika Patil and the entire i-TEK team on their Silver Jubilee and wish them continued success in taking India’s innovations to the world.”

Reflecting on the importance of indigenous innovation, General Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Former Chief of Army Staff, said, “It is an honour to be part of i-TEK’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, marking 25 years of innovation and resilience. RFID, which had its origins in military applications during World War II, has today become integral to our daily lives and businesses, revolutionising logistics, supply chains and operational efficiency. The Panchajanya Experience Centre beautifully captures the richness of our country’s scientific legacy while showcasing the transformative power of this technology. With the integration of AI, IoT, cloud and blockchain, RFID is poised to play an even more promising role in the coming decade. The remarkable progress made by i-TEK under the leadership of Ashim and Avantika Patil is a shining example of how vision, perseverance and commitment can create a homegrown technology leader aligned with national priorities. I extend my best wishes to Team i-TEK for continued success in their journey ahead.”

The newly launched Panchajanya Experience Centre embodies i-TEK’s vision for the future. Designed as a first-of-its-kind globally, the Centre allows visitors to experience live applications of RFID and IoT, including FASTag-enabled tolling, inventory and supply chain traceability in Retail, smart fitting rooms, faster checkouts, secure container movements in trade logistics and AI-enabled monitoring of smart warehouses and retail supply chains. It highlights how i-TEK’s innovations are shaping industries across different verticals while contributing to India’s broader digital economy. 

Speaking at the event, Mr. Ashim Patil, Managing Director & CEO of i-TEK, expressed his gratitude to employees, partners and customers. He said, “Marking 25 years is a proud milestone for i-TEK and for every individual who has been part of this journey. From pioneering RFID-based tolling and contributing to the FASTag ecosystem, to securing India’s exports and transforming supply chains, our focus has always been on building solutions that deliver real impact. At i-TEK, we are deeply committed to supporting the Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of building an Atmanirbhar Bharat and achieving a $5 trillion economy. As India advances towards the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, I am confident that i-TEK will continue to play a steady and significant role in strengthening the nation’s digital infrastructure and showcasing Indian innovation on the global stage. With the launch of Panchajanya and the expansion of our GarudaVigil™ platform, we are entering a new era of growth where Indian innovation will not only strengthen our nation’s digital infrastructure but also shape global supply chains. I would especially like to thank Hon. Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji for his vision and constant encouragement, which have created the right policy environment for companies like ours to innovate and scale. Last year, over 54 billion objects were tagged using RFID, representing $1.7 trillion in value and contributing $17 billion in EBITDA for enterprises”. 

He further added, “With the market expected to grow from $4 billion to $10 billion by 2030, i-TEK is poised to ride this wave, delivering world-class traceability solutions through our new RFID platform, Garuda Vigil. As we look ahead to our next phase, including global expansion and an upcoming IPO, our commitment to nation-building through technology remains stronger than ever.”

Mrs. Avantika Patil, Chairperson, i-TEK said, “As i-TEK celebrates its Silver Jubilee, I see this milestone as both a reflection of our journey and a promise of what lies ahead. What began as a small dream 25 years ago has grown into a strong, resilient enterprise that continues to innovate, adapt and serve the nation. Panchajanya is more than an experience centre, it is a symbol of our growth, a space that captures how a homegrown company from Pune has built solutions that touch millions of lives across India. For us, this moment is not only about celebrating the past but also about setting our sights on the future. We aspire to scale i-TEK into a billion-dollar enterprise, expand globally and continue contributing to Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047, while staying rooted in the values of trust, innovation and service.”

Looking forward, i-TEK is entering a new growth phase. Its GarudaVigil™ cloud-native platform, which integrates RFID, IoT and AI, is poised to become a cornerstone of its future strategy by offering real-time monitoring, predictive analytics and anomaly detection across global supply chains. This shift from project-driven revenues to subscription-based models will create sustainable, recurring growth while also strengthening the company’s international presence. With a strategic investment from Tech Mahindra in 2019 and plans for an IPO within the next three years, i-TEK is preparing to scale globally while consolidating its leadership in India.

Beyond its technological achievements, i-TEK continues to embrace its role as a socially responsible enterprise. Through the Ashim-Avantika Foundation, it actively supports initiatives in child healthcare and the promotion of traditional Indian sports, reflecting its belief that true nation-building extends beyond business and innovation.

As i-TEK marks its Silver Jubilee, the company reflects with pride on 25 years of innovation and impact while looking ahead to an ambitious new chapter of growth. With pioneering solutions, global expansion plans and a deep alignment with India’s national priorities, i-TEK is poised to play an even greater role in strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure and advancing the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

About i-TEK

Infotek Software & Systems Pvt. Ltd. (i-TEK) is a Pune-based technology company and one of India’s pioneers in RFID and IoT solutions. Since its founding in 2000, i-TEK has been at the forefront of digital infrastructure innovation, enabling smarter supply chains, secure trade, and seamless mobility across the nation. The company has played a central role in the rollout of FASTag, deployed RFID-enabled eSeals that safeguard India’s exports across 105 ports, and delivered large-scale solutions across industries such as retail, logistics, oil & gas, mining, and utilities.

Website: https://www.infoteksoftware.com/ 

Parking Payment at Taj Mahal Becomes Digital by Using FASTag Via Paytm Payments Bank

Paytm Payments Bank enables visitors at Taj Mahal to pay digitally for parking using FASTag

Partners with Agra Development Authority (ADA) authorized MG Infra Solutions to facilitate millions of visitors with convenient parking at Taj Mahal using Paytm FASTag. 

India's homegrown Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL), has announced that it now enables convenient payments for car parking at the Taj Mahal using FASTag.

The Bank has partnered with Agra Development Authority (ADA) authorized MG Infra Solutions, to facilitate convenient payments at the biggest west gate at the famous monument. This will drive convenience for the over 8 million annual visitors who come to experience the magnificence of the Taj Mahal.

 

With this partnership, millions of visitors would not have to wait in long queues in the west gate parking area, and can pay digitally with FASTag. Paytm FASTag, which works on the radio-frequency identification technology (RFID), allows users to drive through the FASTag lanes without making them stop to pay the toll taxes & parkings, saving the fuel and commute time. 

Paytm FASTag has gained popularity for its instant activation and superior customer care support. With Paytm FASTag, users do not require a separate prepaid account or login credentials as all Paytm FASTags are linked seamlessly to the popular Paytm Wallet. This feature increases consumer convenience, since they can be assured that as long as they have balance in their Paytm Wallet they will be able to use their FASTag seamlessly.

Paytm Payments Bank Spokesperson said, "With seamless digital payments in real-time, Paytm FASTag saves consumers' both time and fuel. This partnership will help thousands of visitors visiting Taj Mahal as it offers convenience to directly pay from the Paytm Wallet. Paytm FASTag has already digitized parking payments in leading malls, metro stations and airports across India.”

Praveen Gupta, CEO of MG Infra Solutions said “Taj Mahal is one of the 7 wonders of the world, which is why it attracts thousands of foreign and Indian tourists. As the world is moving to safer contactless transactions, we have introduced a FASTag based parking system with the help of Paytm to provide contactless entry to parking lots for the customers. Now customers will be able to pay parking fees through their existing FASTag without a single touch.”

PPBL is the largest issuer of FASTags in the country and is also one of the largest acquirers of toll and parking plazas for the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program, offering an interoperable nationwide toll payment solution.

About Paytm Payments Bank

Paytm Payments Bank has the largest scale in India, in terms of mobile transactions. The bank offers the best-in-class digital payment and banking experience with its mobile-only savings accounts, current accounts, fixed deposits with partner banks, and payment instruments like wallets, UPI, FASTag among other services to Indians. The bank is the largest UPI beneficiary bank, with the lowest technical decline rate amongst beneficiary and remitter banks.

To know more please visit: https://www.paytmbank.com/

Moradabad-based ParkMate Launches UP Govt’s 1st FASTag Enabled Smart Parking

UP based AutoTech ParkMate launched Uttar Pradesh's first smart parking in Lucknow

The moradabad-based startup plans to make smart parking available across India in the next 2 years

Smart Parking Startup- ParkMate has successfully launched UP Govt’s first FASTag enabled Smart Parking with the help of Lucknow Nagar Nigam. The Moradabad based startup has an ambitious plan to automate major parkings of Uttar Pradesh on 1 platform in upcoming years. ParkMate’s smart parking facility will solve the problem of haphazard and illegal parking which will eventually ease the traffic congestion and will provide easier access for customers to the major markets. This will generate more economic opportunities for the cities.

ParkMate provides a seamless parking experience for both users, city administrations and businesses. 

Last year in September, ParkMate secured an undisclosed amount in seed funding facilitated through EvolveX, Global accelerator programme by We Founder Circle, an early-stage start-up investment platform. 

With ParkMate application, citizens of Lucknow will now be saved from the tedious task of searching or even visiting a parking lot. Through ParkMate’s application which is available on Android and iOS platforms, users can get their cars picked up and dropped off at the location of their choice.

ParkMate Parking Space

ParkMate Entry

“Traffic congestion costs the 4 major cities of India an economic loss of ₹ 1.4 lakh crore annually. More than 25% of traffic congestions happen due to parking congestion. Finding a parking space is getting more and more challenging with the increasing number of vehicles on the road. Despite of this, most multilevel car parkings of India are hardly working operating on their 30-50% occupancy. Whereas, surface parkings are over-occupied. ParkMate’s multi-dimensional services can solve all these problems. So, to end the culture of haphazard parking of vehicles, we have come up with sophisticated solutions that address all these concerns. We have a different approach than our contemporaries to solve this problem and we are glad that Uttar Pradesh’s Govt has given us a chance to showcase our services. This will further strengthen the honourable Prime Minister’s Vision of Smart Cities and digital India. Also ParkMate services are paperless which makes us the most ecofriendly and the only paperless parking company of India.,” said Dhananjaya Bharadwaj, Co-founder and CEO, ParkMate.

ParkMate is proud to be a part of this market which is majorly unorganized. The startup has introduced the DROP & SHOP service, which allows users to enter their parking location, where a dedicated valet will pick up the car and park it in a nearby authorized parking lot. ParkMate’s three-tier Trishool system offers an integration of the FASTag + ANPR +UniPay system which uses HD cameras, an inbuilt controller, and its in-house software to automatically scan licence plates and permit/log vehicle entry.

With ParkMate, the attendants are OTP verified and the cars are GPS-tagged so that users can track the car’s live movement. When the customer needs his car, he/she simply has to click on ‘Get my car’ and it will be delivered back safely wherever they want.

Website: https://parkmate.in/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParkMateInd

Hyderabad Gets India’s 1st Contactless Parking Solution by Comvision

• India’s first car park ‘Make in India’ turnkey solution offering 100% Contact-less Transaction Experience
• Integrated & Implemented by Comvision (India) Pvt Ltd for Hyderabad Airport Parking.
• Comvision is a Gurgaon based woman owned enterprise.
• First project in India to integrate Parking with NETC FASTag
• Way to achieve ‘Self reliant India’ during Covid times
• A recognition of women power in India

Comvision (India) Pvt. Ltd. has developed India’s First 100% contactless Parking solution integrated with Fastag, for GMR Hyderabad International Airport parking.  The project which is operational from 9^th July 2020 has eased the traffic at the parking lot and most of all is providing the commuters a safe travel.  The airport receives over 15,000 cars in 24 hours.

The app has not only lead to a seamless and safe transition of vehicles, but also has led to an increase in the parking revenue by 30-40% as it’s a fool proof system with  100% vehicle count and accurate time spent by each vehicle. “We are delighted to note the safety, accuracy and the ease of travel being provided by our app  and are motivated further and have worked out a low-cost very secure solution so that parking pain currently in India can be addressed. We plan to replicate this parking solution throughout the country”, said  Harjinder Kaur Talwar, MD & CEO, Comvision (India) Pvt Ltd.

Covid has taught us to be contact less. Here is how this company grabbed an opportunity in the trying times, both for humanity as well as for enabling Digital India. Comvision has already been in the space of Fastag based e-toll solutions & their solutions are running at many toll plazas on National Highways in India. It remains as one of the few NPCI certified companies for issuer as well as acquirer services of Fastag in India. 

Comvision had implemented first phase Parking integrated with ICICI bank, thus enabling India’s first ever ‘NETC FASTag Car Park’ with NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) in November, 2019. It then rolled out transactions by Fastag issued by multiple banks with the acquirer bank solution of  ICICI. The experience for the user was seamless irrespective of the bank from where Fastag was obtained and used in the parking. 10 bank tags have already been implemented in the end-to-end parking solution rolled out for GMR Airport and more tags by more banks to be integrated are in plan.

“ I have always believed in ’Make in India’ and all our solutions are 100% developed in house. These kind of solutions send a stronger message to be ‘Self reliant’. Such solutions also showcase the women power of the country as sadly usual perception about women remains that they don’t do hi-tech 24x7 solutions. I have always believed that a self-sufficient woman is confident to contribute to the economic growth of the country and steps must be taken to ensure that women power of the country becomes ‘economically empowered’. The ‘Economic Empowerment of women’ was my focus even when I was President FICCI LADIES Organization and now as co-chair of ‘the greater 50%’ a joint initiative of FICCI & FLO, launched by Smt  Smriti Irani, Minister WCD”, added Kaur.

Bhartindu Brij Talwar, Director Comvision, said, 

These kind of solutions can’t be sourced from other countries as they cannot easily understand commuter behaviour in India  and hence are not as effective here. We are thankful to GHIAL for giving us an opportunity to launch the first-of-its-kind contactless parking in India. We plan to take this contactless parking  solution now to International markets through strategic international partnerships as we firmly believe that India can leap in the world in digital space and can be a factory to the world.

The NETC FASTag solution is based on a simple to use, reloadable electronic RFID tag which enables automatic deduction of applicable parking charges, while one drives through the car Park without stopping for any cash transaction.

How the system works:

This automated system entails a customer buying the NETC FASTag, which is linked to a prepaid account. The tag employs Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) technology and needs to be affixed on the vehicle's windscreen after the tag account is active. The RFID Tag is mapped with NPCI by the issuer bank(s). The subscriber of this system can use the parking without any manual intervention, such as waiting for a parking receipt at the entry or making cash/credit card payment at the exit. There is no additional cost to customers with respect to the parking fee. One has to just purchase a onetime tag which does away with the wait time at entry and exit.

Dedicated NETC FASTag lanes are in place at entry. When a user arrives through this lane, the strategically placed RFID reader will capture the tag with the timestamp and store the details in the local data base. While exiting, the same will be reconciled and the chargeable parking fee is automatically deducted allowing the passengers to virtually zip through the parking lot in no time. Post completion of every transaction, user will receive SMS on the deducted amount.

About Comvision (India) Pvt Ltd :

Comvision (India) Pvt Ltd.,   founded in 1995, has been delivering integrated e-governance projects for states as well as central govt departments. The company is the only woman owned enterprise in Intelligent traffic/transport arena in India at a large scale.

Now purchase FASTag at Airtel Payments Bank and enjoy exciting benefits

Airtel Payments Bank, in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), has made FASTag available across its digital and retail touch points. FASTag enables automatic cashless payments at toll plazas across India, making road travel frictionless and time efficient.

FASTag can be purchased in a matter of few clicks on the Bank section of Airtel Thanks App. Airtel Payments Bank is offering a special benefit of Rs 50 cashback on FASTag purchase made via the app. Airtel Thanks customers will soon be able to enjoy an additional benefit of Rs 50 cashback on the online purchase.

FASTag can also be purchased from select banking points of Airtel Payments Bank. To buy a FASTag customers need to share a copy of the vehicle’s Registration Certificate (RC) and registration number.

FASTag is linked to a registered Airtel Payments Bank account or wallet to enable instant automatic deduction of toll charges. There is no need to recharge FASTag separately and bank/Wallet balance is good enough. FASTag users also get 2.5% cashback from NHAI on all Toll payments done using FASTag.

Mr. Ganesh Ananthanarayanan, Chief Operating Officer, Airtel Payments Bank, said, “We are delighted to partner with NPCI to offer FASTag as part of our endeavour to bring a range of popular services to our digital platforms and promote cashless payments. We believe that upcoming use cases from NPCI such as digital parking payments and even challan payments will add to customer convenience and add to the vibrant digital ecosystem that India is building."

Ms. Praveena Rai, Chief Operating Officer, NPCI said, “It is good to witness that Airtel Payments Bank is making FASTag available to vehicle owners for convenient and seamless toll plaza experience. Given the fact that we are just few days away for the mandatory FASTag implementation on 528+ toll plazas, it becomes crucial to create awareness among vehicle owners about its process and advantages. We would like to acknowledge the efforts of Airtel Payments Bank for creating a platform for its customers by giving them a hassle free toll payment experience with FASTag, and also contributing towards digitisation of toll payments."

Airtel Payments Bank Ltd.

Airtel Payments Bank, launched in January 2017, now boasts of a physical presence in all 29 states of the country through its 500,000+ banking points. Out of these, over 60,000 focus on insurance and pension products in an attempt to reach the underserved. India’s first payments bank, it currently facilitates transactions worth 500 billion annually with a user base of over 40 million customers. In addition to its physical banking points, Airtel payments Bank also offers its banking services through its Android and iOS apps. In line with the Government’s vision of Digital India and Financial Inclusion, Airtel Payments Bank is striving to take digital banking services to the doorstep of every Indian, even in the remotest of rural areas.