To avoid inconvenience to highway commuters on account of the mandatory rollout of FASTag from Friday, hybrid lanes at toll plazas on National Highways will remain operational till February 15, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement on Thursday.
Payments can be made through FASTag as well as cash at the hybrid lanes, the MoRTH said, in apparent bid to ensure there was no panic-like situation from Friday.
“Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has mandated fitment of FASTag with effect from January 1 in M and N categories of motor vehicles sold before December1, 2017,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Category M stands for a motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying passengers.
Category N stands for a motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying goods, which may also carry persons.
“It is clarified that this Central Motor Vehicle Rule stands in force as it is. However, at hybrid lanes of fee plazas on National Highways, fee payment can be made through FASTag as well as in cash mode till 15th February, 2021,” the statement said.
In FASTag lanes, payment of fees will continue to be through FASTag only, it said.
The Ministry has also clarified that it is committed to implementation of 100 per cent E-tolling at fee plazas from January 1, 2021 onwards, mandated under CMV (Central Motor Vehicles) Rules, as amended.
