Haryana’s swift drive to cashless

Parveen Arora in Karnal

Haryana is all set to go cashless at all toll barriers on national highways. To make all the 17 toll barriers cashless, the process is on in full swing to convert into FASTags all the lanes, except two — one each for up and down on every toll for cash.

FASTag scanners are being installed and customers are being made aware about the system.Helpdesks at the toll barriers have also been established by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to assist the commuters in getting the facility of FASTags after producing RCs and residence proof, including Aadhaar.

As per the authorities, it will not only help ease the bottleneck situation at the toll plazas, but also promote the Union government’s initiative of digital payment. It will also save the time of commuters as they will have no need to wait in long queues for manual toll fee.

“Vehicles with FASTags will be able to avail the facility in dedicated lanes, while the non-FASTag vehicles will have to cross only non-FASTag lane for manual toll fee. If non-FASTag vehicles enter the FASTag lanes, double toll will be charged,” says Vijay Sharma, Project Director, NHAI, Rohtak.

Aditya Rana, Engineer, NHAI, Ambala, says with this initiative the commuters will get rid of congestion at toll plazas and payment will be hassle-free. It will save fuel as the long queues for manual toll payment will be a thing of past. “We have installed the scanners at all the toll plazas falling under the Ambala office. We also established commuter assistance booths at the toll plazas for providing FASTags,” he adds.

Manish Kumar, in charge of the Bastara toll plaza in Karnal, says 20 out of 22 lanes have been converted into FASTag lanes. It will save the time of the commuters.