New Delhi: The Centre on Friday announced that digital payment will become mandatory from December 1 this year at toll plazas across the length and breadth of the national highways in the country.
How will this function?
Vehicles will have to affix radio frequency identification-based FASTag on the windscreen of the vehicle. This will enable direct payment of fee from the prepaid or savings account linked to it, and enable vehicles to drive through without stopping for transactions, said a government statement.
The objective:
The aim is to promote faster payment of fees through the digital mode so that vehicles can move through seamlessly without causing any traffic snarls.
Penal provision:
According to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, non -FASTag users will be charged double the fee if they pass through FASTag lanes.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has sent a communication to NHAI on Friday to ensure strict implementation of the fee rules.
One hybrid lane will, however, be allowed at every toll plaza to facilitate and monitor over-dimensional or oversized vehicles, where FASTag and other modes of payment will be accepted. This lane will be converted into FASTag lane in a time-bound manner, the government statement said.
FASTag is not new to Indian roads. The provision is already exists at the toll plaza, but lack of adoption of the technology even no-FASTag users are using the FASTag lanes, causing jams in the process.
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