FASTags mandatory at toll plazas to avail benefits: NHAI

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, January 17

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) today announced that all concessions and discounts applicable on toll plazas, including return fair discount and local exemption, would be limited to toll payments paid through FASTags only.

The decision has been taken to further increase the “penetration and widespread use of FASTag for toll payments” across India.

“Therefore, now, exemption and concessions will only be applicable through FASTag at the NHAI toll plazas. Commercial vehicles registered within the district are given a discount of 50 per cent in the toll rates, but now this concession will be available for payment made through FASTag only,” an official spokesperson of the NHAI said.

The spokesperson further said, “There is a discount of 50 per cent on return trip for the return journey performed within 24 hours on paying toll for return journey. This discount will also not be available on cash payment. No return journey slips will now be provided. Only the commuters transacting through FASTag will automatically get the 50 per cent discount on return trip in return journey within 24 hours ie pay only 1.5 times the rate of single trip.”

“Moreover, the monthly passes which are issued to people residing within 20 km from the toll plaza at the Rs 265 per month will also be provided only through FASTags. Any exemption to VIPs and dignitaries will also be through FASTag only,” he said.

Pertinently, FASTag has been made mandatory to pay the toll charges at the NH toll plazas across the country, including those in J&K since January 14.

The project director, NHAI, Jammu, Ajay Kumar Rajak, said a sufficient stock of FASTag was available in the UT and a large number of FASTags were being sold at toll plazas on a daily basis and the number of vehicles fitted with FASTags had increased multiple times in the last two months in J&K and the transaction through FASTag had become more than 30 per cent in the Jammu region.