Fastag: Issues remain at toll plaza

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 16

A month after the Road Transport Ministry made the Fastag mandatory, several issues still remain at the Ladhowal toll plaza. After the extended deadline ended yesterday, there will now be only one lane for cash payment. Earlier, there were three lanes for cash payment.

If a vehicle without Fastag enters the Fastag lane, then the driver will have to pay double the toll or will have to fall in the cash lane queue.

During a visit to the area, it was found that drivers inadvertently entering the Fastag lane indulged in arguments with the toll plaza staff when the former were told to shift to the cash lane. The commuters who had no balance in the Fastag wallet also argued with the staff as they were not allowed to cross the barrier.

“Although a majority of vehicles now have Fastag, many others have not obtained one which often slows down the traffic in Fastag lane. Sometimes, technical glitches in Fastag or time taken to reposition the vehicle beneath the scanner also affect the movement of the traffic,” said a toll plaza worker.

Nitin Sharma, a commuter, said despite having a Fastag, he had remained stuck in the queue for over 10 minutes, as a vehicle without Fastag had entered the lane and the commuter indulged in arguments with the staff when he was told to shift to the cash lane.

Another commuter, Sunny Sachdeva, who had Fastag, said he had to shift to the cash lane as the app had developed some snag.

Commuters harassed

Nitin Sharma, a commuter, said despite having a Fastag, he had remained stuck in the queue for over 10 minutes, as a vehicle without Fastag had entered the lane and the commuter indulged in arguments with the staff.