From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH, May 7: Commuters travelling along National Highway-6 have reported significant traffic snarls at the 20 Mer Pahammawlein toll plaza in Ri-Bhoi following a nationwide directive to discontinue manual transactions.
Staff at the NHAI-operated plaza informed that the congestion followed an order by the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) to stop all manual tolling effective May 1, 2026. The move is part of a central initiative to enforce a 100 per cent digital payment system.
While acknowledging that the transition initially caused bottlenecks, toll officials stated that the situation is gradually improving.
However, they noted that delays are frequently caused by motorists who either lack FASTags or do not use online payment methods despite the new regulations.
The staff also highlighted that many vehicles are equipped with damaged or non-functional FASTags that owners have failed to replace.
A major shift in the new protocol is that toll operators are no longer permitted to manually enter vehicle registration numbers to process payments—a practice previously used to assist motorists with faulty tags or those paying in cash.
This strict adherence to digital scanning has led to occasional arguments and misunderstandings between commuters and staff, further contributing to the backlog.
Meanwhile, authorities have urged vehicle owners to ensure their FASTags are functional and properly funded to ensure a hassle-free journey.
