UDUPI: A move by
the ministry of road transport and highways making it
mandatory for vehicles to have FASTag from January 1 saw locals under the banner of
Rashtriya Heddari Jagruthi Samiti, Sasthana lay siege to Sasthana toll gate on Sunday.
Their concerns were driven from what they believed was an end to
exemption given to local vehicles from paying the toll and the protesters also sought a separate toll-free lane for the local vehicles.
The concern of locals was driven by the fact that they need to cross the toll plaza multiple times a day for their daily needs. The samiti demanded that
Navayuga Udupi Tollway Private Ltd (NUTPL) that manages the toll plaza set up a separate gate for vehicles of the locals who reside in
Kota zilla panchayat segment. NUTPL hitherto was giving this concession for local vehicles within 20-kms based on an understanding with the locals.
A representative of the concessionaire, who did not wish to be identified, told TOI that the matter is beyond the purview of NUTPL. “NHAI has made FASTag mandatory and there can be no distinction between local and outside vehicles,” the representative said. Owners of ‘local’ vehicles need to recharge their FASTag by paying Rs 275 and this amount is valid for unlimited crossing at the toll plaza from the 1st to 30th of every month.
Plans are afoot to provide FASTag for government vehicles and vehicles of people in exempt category including Padma awardees and elected representatives. These tags and tags issued to locals are recognised at toll plazas and provide for
free passage and unlimited monthly passage as the case may be, the representative said, adding any directive on continuing with the ‘free’ passage as it exists now will be communicated to locals if cleared by NHAI.