Argus News - No Cash at Toll Gates! What Every Driver Must Know Before April 1

Bhubaneswar, Jan 17: From April 1, cash payments will no longer be accepted at National Highway toll plazas, as the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways moves to fully digital transactions. Drivers will be required to pay using FASTags or UPI.

Motorists have been advised to make the necessary arrangements before the deadline. Any vehicle arriving at toll gates without digital payment options after April 1 will face penalties.

Travellers must ensure their FASTags are active and sufficiently funded to avoid delays. Those without FASTags should be prepared to use UPI, checking balances in advance on their smartphones to prevent being penalised or denied passage.

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The motive behind the change is to reduce traffic. There is no official notification, but planning is underway. Digital payments will allow vehicles to pay instantly and not wait for long periods. Another reason behind the update is saving fuel by reducing the need to brake and accelerate frequently. Digital payments also enable transparency, ensuring permanent records of transactions.

Officials call it modernising India's toll system. The government is also planning on introducing barrier-free tolls, called the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLF), which will enable vehicles to drive at normal highway-speeds without stopping. For the same system, a pilot project is being tested at 25 toll plazas across the country. The technology used in foreign countries is also being studied. After successful operations, the idea will be implemented nationwide.

Indian Highways are juggling progress and convenience at the same time. The increasing AQI levels demand a smarter solution, which doesn't affect much-awaited journeys of families, or moving goods from one place to another. Indian roads and highways' future is now present.

Compiled by: Satabhisa Jena