The government on Thursday extended the suspension of toll collection on all national highways till December 2 midnight.
“Toll suspension is extended till 2nd December midnight across all National Highways,” Union minister of road transport & highways and shipping Nitin Gadkari tweeted on Thursday.
The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has asked SBI to install POS machines at all toll plazas so that users can pay toll charge through their debit and credit cards.
The government had earlier decided to allow Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes to be accepted at the tolls, but non-availability of change caused traffic snarls.
Citizens will not be charged any toll tax till December 2 across all national highways. However, after the exemption is withdrawn, citizens can still pay the toll using demonetised Rs 500 notes till December 15.
The earlier deadline was November 24 but it has now been extended, since people are still affected due to demonetisation of old currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000.
Earlier in the day, the government had suspended toll collection till December 1.
“For smooth traffic movement across all National Highways, toll collection has now been suspended till mid-night of December 2,” a road ministry official said.
Sufficient swipe machines will be installed at toll plazas with help from SBI and other banks, the official said.
Instructions have been issued to all operators and fee collection agencies about the extension.
