COVID-19: Govt suspends toll collection on national highways to ease emergency services | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

COVID-19: Govt suspends toll collection on national highways to ease emergency services

New Delhi | ByPress Trust of India
Mar 26, 2020 07:47 AM IST

Earlier, the road transport and highways ministry had advised the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to follow the home ministry’s guidelines about toll plaza operations following the lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The government on Wednesday temporarily suspended toll collection on national highways to ease emergency services in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said maintenance of roads and availability of emergency resources at toll plazas will continue as usual.(Parveen Kumar/HT file photo)
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said maintenance of roads and availability of emergency resources at toll plazas will continue as usual.(Parveen Kumar/HT file photo)

“In view of COVID-19, it has been ordered to temporarily suspend the collection of toll at all toll plazas across India,” Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

This will not only reduce inconvenience to emergency services but also save critical time, he said. The minister said maintenance of roads and availability of emergency resources at toll plazas will continue as usual.

Earlier, the road transport and highways ministry had advised the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to follow the home ministry’s guidelines about toll plaza operations following the lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The prevailing condition may be treated as “Force Majeure” of concession or contract agreement in terms of the finance ministry, the road transport and highways said.

The NHAI had rolled out the electronic toll collection programme across India in December on its over 500 toll plazas while doubling toll charges from the vehicles entering FASTag lanes without the tag.

In order to give prime importance to existing FASTag users, dissuade defaulters and further encourage adoption of FASTags by national highway commuters, vehicles without FASTags entering the FASTag lane were being charged double the toll fee and last month over 20 crore were collected from 20 lakh vehicles encroaching FASTag lanes across India.

About two crore FASTags have been issued through multiple Point of Sale (PoS) locations. FASTag transaction by the NHAI last month had crossed four million per day.

In order to further increase digital collection of user fee via FASTag at national highways fee plazas, NHAI had also waived off the FASTag cost of 100 for NHAI FASTag.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Mukhtar Ansari Death News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On