Toll plazas on Chennai-Tiruchi highway prepare for Deepavali traffic rush
Motorists may experience faster travel at the Paranur plaza due to a new multi-lane free flow, barrier-free toll system.
Toll plazas on the Chennai-Tiruchi National Highway are preparing for increased traffic during the Deepavali festival, according to The Hindu. A source from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said that contractors are ensuring toll operators and security guards do not take leave during the rush.
During festivals, the daily volume of vehicles travelling to Tiruchi, which is normally nearly 50,000, is expected to increase. To manage the high volume, lanes and toll booths are being operated 24x7 on all days.
The Paranur plaza, the first plaza from Chennai, features a multi-lane free flow, barrier-free toll system. An NHAI official said that over 83 per cent of vehicles with clear windshields and sufficient balance drove through the plaza without stopping in the past month.
In October, a total of 19,18,967 vehicles crossed the Paranur plaza. Of these, 3,06,307 vehicles had duplicate tags, closed tags, or insufficient balance.
Vehicles with insufficient FASTag balance will be blacklisted and issued e-challans. These vehicles will be stopped at the next plaza to pay double the charge, while those without FASTag will be blocked in the Vahan portal, preventing access to Regional Transport Office services.
The system will also intimate the police if vehicles have fake or improper number plates so that FIRs can be filed. An official requested that the public keep number plates clean and windshields free of dirt to ensure the system functions properly.