By Arun Kumar Das
New Delhi, Feb 20: Payment by cash at Toll plazas on National Highways is to be stopped with effect from April 1, according to a move of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Post-implementation of the proposal, Toll charges will be accepted only through digital modes using FASTag or Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
The proposed measure is aimed at consolidating the gains achieved in Electronic Toll Collection and strengthening the efficiency & reliability of National Highway fee plaza operations, officials said.
The transition will help to enhance ‘Ease of Commuting’ for National Highway users by improving lane throughput, reducing congestion at fee plazas and bringing greater consistency and transparency in toll transactions, they said.
In the past few years, over 98 percent penetration of FASTag has significantly transformed toll collection practices in the country, said an official.
“At present, an overwhelming proportion of toll transactions are processed electronically through RFID-enabled FASTag affixed to vehicles, facilitating seamless and contactless movement across toll plazas,” the official said.
In addition, UPI payment facilities have been operationalized at the National Highway toll plazas, ensuring availability of instant and accessible digital payment options for National Highway commuters nationwide.
As per National Highway fee rules, vehicles entering a toll plaza without a valid, functional FASTag are charged twice the applicable user fee, if the fee payment is made in cash.
Whereas National Highway users who opt to pay via UPI are charged only 1.25 times of the user fee for the applicable vehicle category.
A complete transition to digital-only mode of payment is aimed at strengthening operational efficiency, improve traffic management, minimize delays and enhance overall National Highway user experience at over 1,150 fee plazas on various National Highways and Expressways in the country, the officials said.
The initiative is aligned with the broader NHAI objective of developing a technology-driven, high-efficiency National Highway network that delivers faster, seamless services to National Highway users across the country. (BVI)
