FASTag will be implemented on Nice Road from Feb 14

By Qamar ZJ

Come February 14, and you can zip past the toll gates of NICE Road as well. The FASTag will be activated by then, and all will be smooth sailing for users of four-wheelers. For over a year, Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) had its own toll collection system that only a few had bought. The reason was simple: Why would infrequent users buy a private toll collection system?

But now that FASTag is being implemented diligently across the country, NICE has finally integrated its system to accept FASTag as well. No longer do you have to pay electronically only by NICE card. You can do so with FASTag as well in a week from now.

Explaining the system, a spokesperson told Residents Watch: “The moment a vehicle enters NICE Road, the scanners will record the entry. When the vehicle exits from any of the exit points, the infrared camera and scanner will deduct the requisite amount.” That the integration with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) took over a year is quite puzzling as the infrastructure was already in place.

NICE Road has eight entry and exit points: Hosur Road, Bannerghatta Road, Kanakapura Road, NICE Road interchange, Link Road, Magadi Road, Tumkur Road, and Mysore Road. That you don’t have to buy a NICE card and make do with a FASTag card will make travel faster at the usually congested toll booths on the thoroughfare.

UPDATE: The FASTag implementation on NICE Road is delayed as it has hit a legal hurdle. More details can be found here.