The government has decided to declare all lanes in all Toll Fee Plazas on National Highways across the country as dedicated ‘FASTag Lanes’ from 1 December 2019, according to a Ministry of Road Transport and Highways press release.
FASTag is an electronic toll collection device installed on the windscreen of vehicles which allows drivers to drive through toll plazas without stopping to pay, as it is linked directly to the driver's bank account.
This is part of the government’s plan to push digital payments, decongest highways, prevent traffic jams and make transport seamless.
According to the release, "One hybrid lane will however be allowed at every toll plaza to facilitate and monitor over dimensional or oversized vehicles, where FASTag and other modes of payment will be accepted."
This lane will also be converted into a FASTag lane in a timebound manner.
The ministry found that currently even non-FASTag users are passing through FASTag lanes and making cash payments, leading to crowding and overall traffic congestion at the plaza, “defeating the very purpose of the FASTags”.
The National Highways Authority of India has been asked by the ministry to identify and resolve logistic and other problems likely to lead to any law and order problems when this change is rolled out.
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