NHAI extends deadline for FASTag implementation

Gurugram: In order to ease travel for commuters, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had extended the deadline for FASTag implementation from Sunday onwards at its toll plazas. Despite the extension in time, on day one snarls and confusion continues to be witnessed at Kherki Dhaula toll plaza in Gurugram. A major reason for the traffic blockade can be attributed to a large number of commuters still relying on the payment of cash rather than installing the FASTag device on their vehicles.

According to an official estimate, out of one lakh vehicles that pass through the toll on busy days out of which 75,000 vehicles still want to pay the toll through cash while 25,000 vehicles have installed the FASTag devices. There are 25 gates at the Kherki Dhaula toll plaza. In this 18 gates have been reserved for the FASTag vehicles while six have been left for those vehicles that want to pay cash. One gate has been left for emergency vehicles and the VIP vehicles. With a large number of vehicles still queuing at the cash lanes, often traffic jams have been reported at the toll plaza.

In the past various trails conducted by the officials have not yielded positive results as the traffic jams have extended to three to four kilometers. Interestingly, it is to reduce the challenge of traffic jams that FASTag is being implemented. FASTag is a sticker that has to be put at the front windshield of your vehicle. This sticker becomes the radio frequency identity of your car which is automatically read by the sensors placed at the toll plazas. This sticker is linked either to a prepaid account like Paytm or through a bank account. The amount is deducted automatically whenever your vehicle crosses any toll plaza which is RFID-enabled.

To increase the awareness among the commuters, top officials from NHAI are now being deputed at the spot so that they can increase the awareness among the commuters. "Any new process in the beginning, it takes time. A large number of commuters no doubt want to pay by cash but there are also a large number of commuters who are installing FASTag devices in their vehicles," said RK Bhatti who has been deputed at the Kherki Dhaula toll for registering the commuters.