National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on Wednesday launched the electronic toll collection (ETC) system on national highways in the region through FASTag by integrating all the toll plazas on Delhi -Chandigarh stretch of NH-22(new NH-152).
The ETC system was launched during a programme organised at Dappar toll plaza in SAS Nagar (Mohali) in Punjab.
Alok Deepankar, Chief General Manager (CGM) from NHAI headquarters while addressing the media persons after inaugurating the first of its kind Inter—Operable ETC System facility for payment of user-fee on national highways, said that this is the third stretch of NHAI where ETC through FASTag has been launched.
He said that this facility is already operational on Delhi-Mumbai stretch and Bangalore-Chennai stretch on national highways.
By the end of 2015, all the toll plazas in the country will get ETC facility having at least one dedicated lane for this purpose, initially, number of which will be increased keeping in view the public response, said he.
By using FASTag option, the commuter will be benefitted by way of no waiting at toll plaza subsequently saving in travel time, seamless movement, no need to carry cash while traveling besides tracking of vehicle through SMS alert. Toll amount will be automatically deducted/debited from commuter account without waiting at toll plaza.
Under the ETC system, recharge of FASTag is facilitated through Banks and Points of Sale (POS) established at strategic locations including all toll plazas operated throughout the country. For the time being, this facility has been made operational with the help of two banks namely AXIS Bank and ICICI Bank and talks are on to extend this facility with the help of other banks too.
The initial cost of FASTag is `250 plus tax. As FASTag is based on Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID), tracking of vehicles is also possible as the registered mobile number gets SMS each time when the vehicles crosses toll Plaza using FASTag.