FASTag: Marshalls deployed for enforcement, awareness

s toll plazas of National Highway Authority (NHAI) of India started charging double the amount of road user fee for those who did not have FASTag, toll collectors and officials are facing a barrage of questions from commuters, especially those from rural areas and farmers.

The NHAI and the concessionaires have together deployed 12 to 14 marshalls at each of the 45 plazas in the state to ensure smooth flow of traffic. “We have been facing some resistance. However, our marshalls are also trying to educate the commuters about the need for FASTag and its benefits,” NHAI Regional Officer R K Suryavamshi
said.

He said the government’s direction of charging twice the amount of toll fee for those insisting on cash transactions has been implemented starting Monday. “We have provided several options to people to buy the FASTag. After all, it is going to help them avoid waiting in long queues,” he said.

However, for farmers and many people who are not tech-savvy, the restriction on cash transactions was still a rude shock.

At the Nelamangala toll, a farmer from Kunigal who had brought vegetables to the market at Yeshwantpur got into a long argument with the toll authorities. A staffer at the plaza expressed helplessness in trying to communicate to the middle-aged farmer that the rule was made by the Union government.

“Despite explaining that we are only implementing the rule made by the Union government, the farmer said we are deliberately harassing him. He had an old mobile phone with keypad and it was obvious that he was tech savvy enough to understand the benefit of FASTag,” the staffer
told DH.

Minor traffic snarls were seen in some lanes when commuters started protesting that they would not pay double the amount of toll fee for cash transactions. A toll official said it was difficult to convince those who argued that the government has not informed them through the
media.

“We have given advertisements and spread awareness on different platforms. Besides, over the last two years, many opportunities have been given to buy FASTag. At this stage, enforcement is necessary for greater common good,” he said.