MANDATORY FASTAG WON’T BREACH RIGHT TO MOVE FREELY: GOVT

The Union government has informed the Bombay high court that making FASTag mandatory for all vehicles plying on national highways does not breach a citizen’s fundamental right to freedom of movement in any way.

The Centre made the submission in an affidavit filed in the high court last week in response to a public interest litigation challenging its decision to make FASTag, the electronic toll collection chip, mandatory for all vehicles at toll plazas on national highways. The plea filed by one Arjun Khanapure, also challenged the government’s norm of imposing fines on vehicles flouting the FASTag rules.

The Centre, however, submitted that FASTag had been made compulsory on national highways to ensure seamless traffic movement, cut travel time short, and that all decisions had been taken in accordance with the Central Motor Vehicles (CMV) Rules.