1.10 Crore FASTags Issued Till Date For Electronic Toll Collection On NHs

New Delhi: The pan-India rollout of electronic toll collection on national highways (NHs) has resulted in issuance of 1.10 crore FASTags till date, as per NHAI.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) started electronic toll collection through RFID-based FASTags on its 523 toll plazas across the country from December 15 for seamless flow of traffic.

FASTag is a prepaid tag, affixed on vehicle's windscreen, that enables automatic deduction of toll charges and lets the vehicle pass through the toll plaza without stopping for cash transaction.

"About 1.10 crore FASTag s have been issued through multiple Point of Sales (PoS). The highway authority has been observing sales of nearly 1.5-2 lakh FASTag s daily which is a clear reflection of this digital system being accepted well," an NHAI official told PTI.

As a result, the daily electronic toll collection has touched about Rs 46 crore, the official said.

FASTag The implementation is proving to be instrumental in facilitating travel on national roads and is gaining a great sense of acceptance by highway users, he said.

Within eight days of FASTag implementation, FASTag The toll transaction has reached around 24 lakh daily, the official added.

NHAI is working hard to iron out the teething issues as reported by commuters since implementation of FASTag s, the official said, adding that all the issues that have been flagged off so far are being addressed diligently by experienced NHAI officials on and off the ground.

To give greater importance to existing ones FASTag users, dissuade defaulters and further encourage adoption of FASTag s by commuters, vehicles without FASTag s entering FASTag Double the toll rate is being charged.

This has also resulted in a smooth and uncomplicated movement of FASTag road users.

The adoption of FASTag s also means that it has brought in the much-needed transparency in collection at the toll booths, the official said.

On December 15, NHAI had said that so many vehicles were without FASTag , 75 per cent of the lanes were kept as FASTag lanes and up to 25 per cent of lanes were maintained as hybrid lanes considering the convenience of travellers who had not installed FASTag in your vehicle

Regional officers have been authorised to take on the spot decision for converting up to 25 per cent lanes to hybrid lanes on a case-to-case basis to avoid traffic pile-up at high traffic volume fee squares.

Studies have shown that smooth passing without stopping at toll square s is likely to save thousands of crores every year for the nation.

(PTI)