Don’t have FASTag? Long queues to take a toll on you

Even as the ministry of road transport and highways on Saturday relaxed the deadline for mandatory use of FASTags for payments at toll plazas on national highways

Even as the ministry of road transport and highways on Saturday relaxed the deadline for mandatory use of FASTags for payments at toll plazas on national highways by a month, travellers who have not adopted the new system should get ready to wait in long queues from Sunday.

Reason: Toll plazas on national highways around Chandigarh will have only one hybrid lane where people will be able to make cash payments. All other lanes will accept only FASTag, confirmed local NHAI project director KL Sachdeva. At present, there are around three hybrid lanes at all toll plazas, he said.

However, in case of rush, the number of hybrid lanes could be increased, said Sachdeva. According to the ministry’s communication to the NHAI, the number cannot be more than 25% of the total lanes.

Moreover, the Centre for now has also relaxed the condition of charging double from travellers not having a FASTag.

“Depending upon the rush, we will designate an additional hybrid lane instead of charging double,” said Sachdeva.