Despite Teething Trouble, FASTag Rollout On Fast Lane; 40% Rise In Daily Toll Collection, 46% Toll Transactions FASTagged

Union Minister For Road and Transport Nitin Gadkari has said that the revenue toll collections through FASTags has substantially increased, All India Radio reported.

CNBC, quoting officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), reported that the average daily toll income of NHAI has registered a sharp rise to Rs 85-80 crore now as compared to an average daily figure of around Rs 60-65 crore representing an over 40 percent jump.

Launching the TV Commercial to create awareness about FASTag in New Delhi, Gadkari said that till now one crore FASTags have been issued.

On a daily basis, nearly 1.5-2 lakh FASTags are being sold.

Currently 46 percent of all toll transactions are enabled through FASTags and the government is hopeful that it will be able to achieve 90 percent penetration in a period of one month, the officials added.

The government has implemented the new electronic toll collection - FASTag from 15th of this month. While the original plan was for a mandatory roll-out across all lanes of all toll plazas, the ministry subsequently modified the use of FASTags across at least 75 percent lanes of toll plazas and has restricted use of cash mode of payment to a maximum of 25 percent lanes of toll plazas.

Gadkari has said that the new system will provide seamless traffic and reduce air pollution and save fuel.