New FASTag deadline boosts electronic toll collection

The increase in ETC directly translates into reduced queues at the toll plazas

The Centre’s new deadline for enforcement of FASTag has given a big push to the number of vehicles adopting the electronic toll collection (ETC) system with the last two weeks seeing a big jump in the rate of compliance.

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Regional Officer R K Suryavamshi said the average ETC which stood at about 70% till recently has seen a significant improvement over the last one week.

“Karnataka has 45 toll plazas and 488 lanes which recorded an average ETC collection of about 70% till last week. As per the data from February 14, a day before the deadline, the average collection has gone up to 84% with the plaza at Surathkal (Dakshina Kannada) recording 93%,” he said.

The increase in ETC directly translates to reduced queues at the toll plazas as the automatic payments eliminate the time consumed in cash transactions.

Interestingly, data showed that the electronic toll collection in plazas in the Bengaluru area was much lower at about 75%, compared to the other parts of the state. This, officials believe, due to the number of travellers who rarely take their vehicles to the national highways.

The official said that more people are expected to switch over to ETC collection over the next one week. Those who questioned the need to adopt FASTag citing occasional or rare travel are also falling in line. The data for Monday is being assessed and officials hope to see a big improvement in compliance within the next one week.

Two types of FASTag

Suryavamshi noted that the NHAI has made it further easy for commuters to buy the radio frequency-identity based tags. “The FASTag offered by the banks that require deposits of up to Rs 250. Now, the Indian Highway Management Company Limited (IHMCL) has offered another FASTag that doesn’t require a deposit and can be bought for even Rs 100,” he explained.

Over the last one week, point of sale counters were set up at several toll plazas to help people buy the FASTag. Officials said they are seeing good response from the public.