‘DCs, SSPs to handle transition, crowd management at Toll Plazas’
Srinagar, Dec 04 : The Home Department of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory (UT) has directed all deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police to provide requisite support for implementation of electronic toll collection at all Toll Plazas of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in J&K.
“It is enjoined upon all the concerned District Magistrates and Superintendents of the Police to render requisite support for handling this transition, including crowd management at respective Toll Plazas,” reads the circular issued by additional secretary( Internal Security ) Khalid Majeed, a copy of which is available with the wire service.
The directive has been issued to ensure crowd management at the toll Plazas and to prevent occurrence any untoward incident. The circular has been issued after the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways decided to implement 100 per cent electronic tax collection using FAST ag technology.
The Ministry has taken the step to “reduce pollution caused due to overcrowding of vehicles at Toll Plazas and to save fuel and time”.
As per KNO, FASTag is an electronic toll collection system operated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). It employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it or directly toll owner. It is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables to drive through toll plazas without stopping for transactions.
The tag can be purchased from official Tag issuers or participating Banks and if it is linked to a prepaid account, then recharging or top-up can be as per requirement.
After the Ministry’s directive, all the lanes at the Toll Plazas have been FASTag enabled, leaving, however, one lane in each direction where FASTag as well as cash payments would be accepted. Under the new norms, any vehicle entering into a declared “FASTag lane” without a Fastag, will have to pay toll fee double the applicable rate. (KNO)
