Travellers allege faulty FASTag deductions at Bijbehara Toll Plaza

Officials at Toll Plaza urge affected individuals to contact for verification and resolution

By: Rehan Qayoom Mir

Srinagar: Cab drivers and locals from various parts of the valley have alleged faulty deductions from their FASTag accounts at the Kachkoot Bijbehera Toll Plaza.

Several individuals have reported being charged Rs. 120 or more for both onward and return trips, even though their vehicles were parked at home.

One cab driver, speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said: “We usually pay Rs. 120 when traveling from Srinagar to Pahalgam and Rs. 80 on the return journey. However, recently, I was charged Rs. 120 for both legs of the trip, even though my car was parked at home. This seems like a technical issue with the system.”

Another cab driver echoed the same concern, stating: “This problem is affecting many of us. We have always paid the standard toll rates, but now we are being charged twice the amount for no apparent reason.”

Similarly, a local resident from Srinagar shared a similar complaint: “I received a deduction of Rs. 120 at 10:45 PM, even though my vehicle was parked at home. It’s frustrating to see such discrepancies in the system.”

Pertinently, FASTag, an electronic toll collection system introduced by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), is designed to make toll payments hassle-free. However, the alleged malfunctions at the Kachkoot Toll Plaza have left many drivers and locals worried about unjust deductions.

The affected individuals have urged authorities to investigate and resolve the issue promptly.

When contacted, an official from the Kachkoot Toll Plaza in Bijbehera told KNO: “We have not received any such complaints so far. However, if anyone has faced such an issue, we request them to contact us. We will verify the claim, and once verified, we will take the necessary steps to address the problem.”—(KNO)