Just 20% FASTag transactions at toll plazas, Net ban adds to woes

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 25

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has failed to effectively implement the FASTag installation on vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir as the Internet ban in the newly formed Union Territory (UT) has confined the FASTag transaction to 15 to 20 per cent only.

Unlike other parts of the country, NHAI has opened three cash lanes and one FASTag lane to ease traffic on toll plazas. However, the authorities have made only one cash-lane on toll plazas in other parts of the country.

“We have strictly implemented FASTag in Jammu and Kashmir like other parts of the country from December 15, but the response is only 15-20 per cent as there is no Internet in J&K since August 5,” Hem Raj, Regional Officer, NHAI, J&K, said.

“We have made only one FASTag lane and three cash lane for now, but we will gradually increase the Fastag lanes and reduce cash lanes when the FASTag response will increase,” he added.

However, NHAI is charging double toll if the vehicle without FASTag enters the FASTag lane on toll plazas in Jammu and Kashmir.

There is a lot of chaos and confusion among travellers in Jammu and Kashmir about FASTag, as the government has announced that only one lane will be given for the cash payers at the toll plaza. As the Internet is unavailable in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5, the people are unable to get FASTag and recharge it.

“I have installed FASTag on my vehicle, but after installation I was told to recharge it online. Where will I go to recharge it as there is no Internet in J&K?” asked Sumit Sharma, a resident of Jain Bazar.

“Is this a joke? Firstly, the government bans the Internet and then starts implementing online services and makes it mandatory too. What kind of digital India is this where crores of people are deprived of Internet for more than four months?” he asked.

On the toll plazas also, the people are enquiring about FASTag and buying it, but the staff is silent on the recharge of FASTag, saying ‘you have to do it online’.

Mobile internet services were banned in J&K from August 5 when Article 370 was abrogated.