By Dec 1, Bastara toll plaza to go electronic

Strap: With this, commuters won’t have to stop to make payment

Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 20

With directions from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to make toll payments electronic by December 1, SOMA-Roadis, a company that collects toll at Bastara plaza in Gharaunda, has started the process to convert toll collection lanes into FASTag.

As per authorities, it will not only help ease the bottleneck situation at the plaza, but will also promote the Union government’s initiative of digital payment.

“To reduce vehicular traffic at the toll plazas, the Union Ministry has mandated all plazas to make toll payments electronic by December 1, 2019. Now, the vehicles will have to pay toll mandatorily using FASTag. The commuters can either get it tagged from the toll plaza or purchase it through e-commerce websites such as Amazon, Flipkart, or from any private or government bank. It will save time and fuel of commuters,” said Aditya Rana, an official of NHAI.

The toll plaza will be equipped to electronically debit amount from the account linked to Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) technology-based automated pre-paid device called FASTag affixed on vehicle windscreens. It will enable the commuters to drive through without stopping to make the payment. Toll barriers would electronically read the tag, deduct the toll and let the vehicle pass, said Manish Kumar, manager of Bastara toll plaza.

“We have 24 lanes, 12 each on both sides of plaza. We have started the process to install FASTag devices and scanners to scan the FASTag installed on the vehicles. We will leave two lanes, one on each side, for cash and other mode of payment. We will convert these lanes into FASTag before December 1,” said Kumar.

Officials claim owners of the vehicles without FASTag will have to cough up double the normal rate of toll. “A person will have to pay double toll fee if a non-FASTag vehicle enters in the dedicated FASTag lane,” said the manager.

Presently, M/s Panipat-Jalandhar NH 1 Tollways Pvt Ltd is operating the road and toll project on BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis for 15 years, since 2009. Earlier, it was operated from Samanabahu village near Nilokheri and later, in 2014, it was shifted near Bastara village.

On an average, 40,000-45,000 vehicles use this plaza daily. On weekends, the plaza witnesses heavy traffic that leads to jams sometimes. It charges Rs125 from light motor vehicles for single journey and Rs185 for both sides. Similarly, a truck driver has to pay Rs430 for single journey and Rs645 for both sides. It charges Rs695 for single journey from multi-axles vehicle, and Rs1,040 for both sides.

“To educate people about the direction and notification of the Union Ministry, we have started a drive at the toll plaza. We have displayed banners and placards at toll plaza. Besides, our employees are also informing the commuters about new directions,” he added.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Anish Kumar Yadav held a meeting with the officials in this regard.