New deadline not helping shift to FASTag

As per NHAI, the number of vehicles passing through toll plazas in Karnataka with FASTag stickers on the windshield is still as low as 28%. NHAI has also pointed out that a majority of transactions, more than 60%, still happen in cash.

BENGALURU: Despite an extension in deadline to switch to FASTag transactions, the compliance rate hasn’t seen seen a significant rise, say National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials.

New deadline not helping shift to FASTag in Karnataka: NHAI

As per NHAI, the number of vehicles passing through toll plazas in Karnataka with FASTag stickers on the windshield is still as low as 28%.

NHAI has also pointed out that a majority of transactions, more than 60%, still happen in cash.

“The race to purchase FASTag stickers has slowed down since the deadline extension (to December 15). The momentum we saw on November 30 is missing now. People are still buying the stickers but not with the same kind of urgency. On December 5 alone, 1.4 lakh stickers were sold across the country. How many of these were sold in Karnataka is not known,” said RK Suryavanshi, project director, NHAI-Karnataka.

‘It has slowed down transition pace’

Somasekhar SP, project director, NHAI, Bengaluru, said the new deadline has, in fact, slowed down the pace at which commuters were shifting gears to the new payment mode at toll plazas. “There hasn’t been much improvement after the deadline was pushed to December 15. There are many who are yet to purchase the stickers. At this rate, we may not be able to achieve 100% FASTag transactions by December 15,” he said.

In July, the Union ministry of road transport and highways announced that the RFID-enabled (Radio Frequency Identification) system would be made mandatory for toll payment at all NH plazas in the country. With the RFID stickers placed on the windscreens of vehicles, commuters will be able to pass through toll booths without halting.