NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Road Transport has extended the deadline for the collection of 100% of the tolls in the National Highway (NH) network through FASTag until February 15. Previously, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had announced that it would completely eliminate cash transactions for paying tolls from January 1.
Currently, the proportion of FASTag transactions is around 75-80%. In a communication to NHAI, the ministry has said that the highway authority can obtain the necessary regulatory requirement to guarantee 100% cashless fare collection from February 15. To discourage cash transactions at toll plazas, all but one lane on each side have dedicated “FASTag lanes” and any vehicle entering these lanes without FASTag is required to pay double the toll rate. normal.
“Cash is a legal mode of transaction and no one can be denied payment in cash. Therefore, the best option would be the strict application of the Motor Vehicle Rule, which has made the valid FASTag mandatory, ”said an official.
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