E-tolling mandatory across national highways from December this year
BCCL
Synopsis
In a letter sent to the NHAI, the highways ministry has asked for conversion of all toll lanes at all national highways to 'FASTag lanes'.
By Nishtha Saluja, ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: Toll collection across all national highways in the country will be done electronically starting December 1, as per the latest directions from the ministry of road transport and highways.
The RFID-based FASTag affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle allows for direct payment of fee from the prepaid or savings account linked to it, and enables vehicles to drive through toll plazas without stopping for transactions.
ET reported on July 9 the government's plan to make FASTags mandatory for payment of tolls across national highways in the country.
According to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, a FASTag lane in a toll plaza is reserved exclusively for the movement of FASTag users. There is also a provision under the rule according to which non -FASTag users are to be charged double the fee if they pass through FASTag lanes.
The ministry, in its letter to NHAI has called for strict implementation of these 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 highways ministry said in a statement on Friday.
"In order to ensure smooth implementation of this decision, the Ministry has asked NHAI to assess the overall requirement of FASTags across the country and make it available in requisite numbers," the statement added.
Keeping with the government's plan to switch to e-tolling, the Indian Highways Management Company on Monday invited bids for setting up Point of Sales locations for sale and registration of FASTags at Toll Plazas in the country.
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In a letter sent to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the highways ministry has asked for conversion of all toll lanes at all national highways to 'FASTag lanes', a move that will make travel through toll plazas seamless and also remove congestion.The RFID-based FASTag affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle allows for direct payment of fee from the prepaid or savings account linked to it, and enables vehicles to drive through toll plazas without stopping for transactions.
ET reported on July 9 the government's plan to make FASTags mandatory for payment of tolls across national highways in the country.
According to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, a FASTag lane in a toll plaza is reserved exclusively for the movement of FASTag users. There is also a provision under the rule according to which non -FASTag users are to be charged double the fee if they pass through FASTag lanes.
The ministry, in its letter to NHAI has called for strict implementation of these rules.
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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 highways ministry said in a statement on Friday.
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"In order to ensure smooth implementation of this decision, the Ministry has asked NHAI to assess the overall requirement of FASTags across the country and make it available in requisite numbers," the statement added.
Keeping with the government's plan to switch to e-tolling, the Indian Highways Management Company on Monday invited bids for setting up Point of Sales locations for sale and registration of FASTags at Toll Plazas in the country.
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(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
