FASTags To Be Free For Persons With Disabilities

In a big relief to persons with disabilities, all vehicles registered under their names will be allowed for a free ride across the National Highway network.

In a big relief to persons with disabilities, all vehicles registered under their names will be allowed for a free ride across the National Highway network. They will now be allowed to ride the national highway without having to pay tolls. Individuals with disabilities (PwDs) will have to get a “zero transaction” or “free FASTag” for their vehicles from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). So far, the vehicles modified for use by the physically challenged were exempted from paying toll tax in India. Around 2.7 crore people in India were identified physically disabled according to the 2011 Census. Out of them, a very few of them drive a vehicle currently. The NHAI will accept the requests of only individuals who have a certificate by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. 

Under these rules, vehicles with the zero transaction tag will only be exempted from paying the toll charge on the National Highway. Currently, “zero transaction FASTag” are available for people like judges of theSupreme Court and high courts, MPs, MLAs in their home state, etc. It is expected that these exemptions will bring huge relief to a large number of persons with disabilities (PwDs) NHAI has also decided to defer the collection of user fees at toll plazas only through FASTags till 15th February 2021.

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