Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 14: The toll plazas in the coastal region have geared themselves up to implement mandatory FASTags from midnight of December 15. But over 50 percent of vehicles moving on the highway are yet to acquire them.

Although FASTags are available in many bank branches and online, immediate delivery is not happening in many cases for want of enough stock. Those who buy online also are not getting FASTag stickers immediately, although they get message about dispatch.

Those who buy FASTags at toll booths get them quickly. PayTM has distributed FASTags at Suratkal toll booth even on Friday. Even though the government had said that FASTags would be supplied by national highways authority free of cost, nothing of this sort has happened.

The toll booths, in addition to making preparations to receive toll charges through FASTags, have also beefed up police security as initial hiccups are possible. Talapady toll gate manager, Shiivaprasad Rai, said that manual scanner also would be kept ready for use in case of technical snag. Number of people manning the toll gates has been increased and direction boards are being fixed. CCTV cameras of all the gates have direct connection to technical department of union ministry of surface transport.

Project director of National Highways Authority of India, Shishu Mohan, said that so far there is no information of any extension of date for implementation of FASTags. At the same time, confusion over allowing locals vehicles free access continues, even though the officials say that they will allow vehicles after verifying vehicles registration certificates and local address proof.