FASTag In Force, Traffic Jams At Toll Gates In AP, TS

The newly introduced FASTag initiative of the union government for paying highway toll finally came into force across the country including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana today.

However, several vehicle users did not have the tags still, and faced several problems at toll plazas all over the two States since the number of toll gates for people without FASTags has been reduced.

Huge traffic jams were thus witnessed at the Pattangi toll gate of the Choutupal mandal in the Yadadri Bhongir district as the vehicle users who didn't have the tags were seen making cash payments to cross the toll plaza. Five gates of the plaza have been kept for the passage of the vehicle users with FASTags and three for those making cash payments.

There was also a traffic jam at the Korlapahad toll plaza in Kethepally mandal in Nalgonda district due to the same reason. And a similar traffic jam was witnessed at the Parigi toll plaza of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh.

Although the union government has issued orders that twice the normal amount needs to be charged as toll fee from people without FASTags, it has relaxed the rule anticipating public anger, and has only restricted the number of lines where cash payments will be accepted.