In a bid to enhance efficiency and transparency in toll collection, the Maharashtra government has announced that all toll plazas across the state will mandate FASTag usage starting April 1. The decision, approved by the state cabinet led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, aims to streamline toll payments, reduce vehicle congestion, and save time and fuel for commuters.
Toll Collection Exclusively Through FASTag
The Public Works Department’s proposal for exclusive FASTag toll collection was sanctioned during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Under the new rules, vehicles without FASTag or those entering designated FASTag lanes without valid tags will be required to pay double the toll fee.
Currently, tolls are collected at 13 road projects managed by the Public Works Department and nine projects overseen by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. The mandate will cover these projects and all future toll collection initiatives across the state.
FASTag, India’s electronic toll collection system for national highways, is expected to bring transparency and reduce the delays caused by manual toll collection.
Administrative Reforms for Streamlined Governance
The cabinet also approved revisions to the Maharashtra Government Rules of Business to improve administrative processes. The revisions include provisions for matters requiring approval from the cabinet, the chief minister, or the governor. They also cover procedural guidelines for cabinet and council of ministers’ meetings.
This is the third major revision to the rules since they were first framed in 1975. After receiving the governor’s approval, the updated rules will be published in the official gazette.
The revised rules include:
- 48 regulations, four schedules, and one annexure divided into nine sections.
- Schedules detailing administrative departments, matters requiring cabinet approval, and procedures for legislative proposals.
- Provisions to ensure that orders are issued at a minimum of the undersecretary level.
The updates were recommended by a study group comprising departmental secretaries, based on a comparative study of similar rules from the Government of India and other states.
Focus on Public-Centric Governance
These changes are expected to simplify and expedite decision-making processes, enabling more effective governance. The state government emphasized that the reforms aim to improve transparency, efficiency, and citizen-centric administration, ultimately benefiting Maharashtra’s residents.
This dual focus on technological integration in toll collection and administrative reforms reflects the government’s commitment to modernizing infrastructure and governance.
Sources By Agencies