JAIPUR: Of the 6.8 lakh vehicles that passed through toll plazas in Rajasthan on February 16, the day FASTag was made mandatory in all lanes, over 6 lakh vehicles had FASTag coverage, making it 88.02 per cent of the total number of vehicles. Only 11.51 per cent vehicles (78,980) were without FASTag and were charged double the actual fare.
Of the total toll collection of Rs 10.58 crore on Tuesday (February 16), 87.24 per cent collection (Rs 9.2 crore) was through FASTag and 12.58 per cent (Rs 1.3crore) was through cash (double the amount for vehicles without FASTag).
In over 20 toll plazas across the state, the FASTag coverage had crossed 90 per cent. Of all the toll plazas in Rajasthan, Jasnath Nagar, Motisar/Khanori and Morani/Pokhran toll plazas in Jodhpur witnessed 100 per cent FASTag coverage in vehicles passing through them on Tuesday. Lilimba toll plaza in Ajmer district saw 98.07 per cent vehicles covered under FASTag.
Meanwhile, the lowest FASTag coverage in vehicles was at Tankla toll plaza in Jodhpur district, at 49.97 per cent. The coverage was poor at Bor Charan toll plaza in Barmer as well, at 58.35 per cent.
An official at Tatiyawas toll plaza said, it crossed 90 per cent FASTag coverage on Tuesday. “Of the total number of vehicles, about 6 per cent vehicles were exempted from FASTag (police and other government vehicles). In Tatiyawas, penalty was slapped on around 2,500 vehicles. Over 26,000 vehicles passed through this toll on Tuesday,” said Zaheer Khan, in-charge of the toll plaza.
The Union ministry of road transport and highways had made FASTag mandatory from January 1 this year in old vehicles (four wheelers) sold before December 1, 2017 through amendments in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The state transport departments are sending text messages to vehicle owners pointing to the violation and also mentioning that they could be levied a penalty in case they are caught.