The government on Thursday announced that it was extending till December 1 the suspension of fee collection at all toll plazas on National Highways in the country.
"Toll suspension is extended till 1st December midnight across all national highways," Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping, Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.
Earlier, the government suspended fee collection at all toll plazas on National Highways till the midnight of November 11. This was subsequently extended thrice -- and the last extension was to end on the midnight of November 24.
The Ministry had previously said that instructions for the suspension of fee collection had been issued to all the concessionaires, including BOT (build-operate-transfer), OMT (operate-maintain-transfer) operators and other fee collection agencies.
The decision has been taken to avoid any inconvenience to highway users following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.
On November 22, the government had also extended the suspension of vehicle parking charges at all airports till the midnight of November 28.
Even, the Indian Railways have waived off service charges for 'e-tickets' and 'i-tickets' booked through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) till December 31.
This announcement comes after a day when the government said it would make mandatory for new vehicles to have digital tag for paying toll in highways.
"As far as toll plazas are concerned, the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways is advising vehicle manufacturers that in all new vehicles, the manufacturers must provide Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) facility," Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das told reporters on Wednesday.
The RFID tag ensures that vehicles can pass the electronic toll collection booth without stopping as the toll amount is deducted from the RFID card.
Das said the RFID facility in all new vehicles will ensure payment of toll digitally and also avoid the waiting time at check posts.
"Digital payments will improve the functioning of toll plazas," he said.
The secretary also said that all government offices have been asked to make payments to stakeholders, contractors and employees only via the digital mode.