Tag users at Gurugram toll plaza increase significantly

The number of commuters using tags at Gurugram's Kherki Daula toll plaza has recorded a significant increase after the November 8 demonetisation while toll collection has decreased after the exercise resumed from December 2 midnight, a senior toll collection official said on Monday.

Commuters on the toll plaza's 'Point Of Sale' (POS) on the Gurugram-Delhi Expressway here have been queuing up to get Fast-Tags and Pass-Tags after collection restarted.

"At least 20 per cent of the total toll collection of Rs 38 lakh daily at present, which comes to around Rs 7.6 lakh, is collected through tags and swipe machines," Piyush Gandhi, project head of the expressway's operating firm Skylark, told IANS.

"Earlier, collection from issuance of tags and their recharge neared Rs 4.5 lakh."

He said 44 swipe machines are being used at 22 tollbooths at the plaza.

Gandhi said 70,000-75,000 vehicles pass through the toll plaza daily, compared with around 80,000 earlier. While the present collection totals Rs 38 lakh, earlier it was Rs 45 lakh daily.

"Though commuters now offer Rs 2,000 notes, we do not face shortage of smaller denomination banknotes," he said.

Officials at Gurugram's famous Sheetla Mata Mandir provided Rs 20 lakh in smaller notes to ease the crunch at the toll plaza and have assured of Rs 10 lakh in such notes daily.

Fast-Tags facility, which offer 10 per cent discount, is provided by the National Highway Authority of India in association with ICICI and IDFC banks. Pass Tags facility is available from the officials of Kherki Daula tollbooths only, especially for regular commuters.

--IANS

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