No old notes for fuel from Saturday, toll collection to resume with some relief

New Delhi: Amid reports of misuse, the government in India on Thursday put an end to the use of old Rs 500 notes for buying fuel at petrol pumps and purchasing tickets at airports from Saturday, while exemption for payment of toll on highways will also end on Friday.

Earlier, these facilities and the toll exemption were to continue till December 15.

All toll plazas on National Highways have been equipped with card swipe (PoS) machines through which people can make payments using their credit or debit cards, although people will be allowed to use old 500 notes for paying toll above Rs 200 or for purchasing FASTags from midnight of December 2.

The government had last week extended the time period of use of invalid currency notes for making payment of public utility bills, buying petrol, mobile recharge, rail tickets and air tickets at airport till December 15.

However, it has decided to withdraw the facility for use of old 500 notes at airports and petrol pumps from midnight of December 2.

The ministry said that processes of production, dispatch and distribution of currency notes have been continuing and more cash is flowing into the system steadily and digital transactions have also made an impressive progress and are expected to significantly improve during the coming days.

“Now, therefore, as digital transaction options have been increasing across different sections of the economy, it has been observed that the outlets of the oil and gas marketing companies are better equipped to accept payments through digital means,” it said while removing petrol pumps from exempted list.

The ministry however clarified that supply of LPG continues to be in the exempted category for the purpose of payment through old Rs 500 bank notes.

While junking old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes on November 8, the government had allowed their use for utility bill payments for 72 hours.

This deadline was extended twice. When the last one was to expire on November 24, government amended it to state that only the old 500 rupee notes could be used for payment of utility bills like electricity and water, school fees, pre- paid mobile top-up, fuel purchase and airline ticket booking.

While old notes will continue to be accepted for other utility bill payments as well as at railway ticketing counters and counters of government or public sector undertaking buses for purchase of tickets till December 15, they will be discontinued for purchase of fuel and airline tickets at airport counters. PTI

Mansukh Mandaviya says the Government is well prepared to resume toll collection on National Highways

Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, MoS for Road Transport & Highways has said that the Government is well prepared to resume collection of toll fees on all National Highways from the midnight of 2nd December, and is committed to ensure smooth movement of traffic. To ensure this, elaborate arrangements have been put in place by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and NHAI.

Talking to media persons in Delhi today, Shri Mandaviya informed that all 367 toll plazas on national highways have been equipped with adequate number of swipe machines through which people can pay toll fees using their credit or debit cards. In addition to this toll fee payment can also be made using electronic wallets.

Shri Mandaviya further said that national highways users are also being encouraged to use FASTags to pay toll fees. Arrangements have been made for sale of FASTags at select toll plazas. Toll plazas will have dedicated lanes for FASTags. From 2nd December midnight to 15th December midnight, old 500 rupee notes will be accepted at toll plazas if the toll fee is more than Rs. 200 and for purchase of FASTags.

The Minister said that at each toll plaza, senior officials of the Ministry / NHAI are also being deployed for support and observation. NHAI has also set up a Central Toll Control Centre at its HQ, which is functioning 24×7 from 30.11.2016 to monitor the entire process. Similar control centres are also established at each Regional Office of NHAI. Hon’ble Minister also iterated that in coming days the Government will come up with more digital and user friendly technology to make traffic flow and toll collection smooth on national highways. PIB

“Army deployed at toll plazas in Bengal”: Mamata

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today alleged the Army was deployed at two toll plazas at Palsit and Dankuni on NH 2 in West Bengal without informing the state government and described it as “unprecedented and a serious matter.”

“Army has been deployed at two toll plazas without informing the state government. This is a very serious situation worse than Emergency,” she told reporters at the state secretariat.

“It is an attack on the federal structure. We want to know the details. The Chief Secretary is writing to the Centre. Given an opportunity I will talk to the President on the issue. Has Emergency been imposed in the country without declaration?” she wanted to know.

The Chief Minister said, “Army is our asset. We are proud of them. We requisition Army in times of major disaster or communal flare up.

“I don’t know what has actually happened. Even if there is mock-trial, state government is informed”, she said.

Banerjee claimed that the people got panicky due to the deployment of Army at toll plazas.

When contacted, A Defence spokesperson said that the army conducts bi-annual exercise throughout the country with the aim of getting statistical data about the load carriers that could be made available to the army in case of a contingency.

“There is nothing alarming about this and it is carried out as per government orders”, Wing Commander S S Birdi said.

The exercise gives an estimate about the number of vehicles passing through a certain area that could be tapped during operations, he said. PTI