The Centre has barred cash payments at highway toll booths from April 10, as per a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.All vehicle owners will now need to have either a valid FASTag or a UPI payment app on a national highway. If they don’t have either, there will be a system in place under which they will have 72 hours to make an online payment before penalties will be slapped.While FASTag will remain the main payment method, the UPI will serve as a backup alternative for vehicles without it.Commuters, including owners of private vehicles and drivers of commercial vehicles, and transportation companies that still accept cash payments at toll booths will be directly impacted by this change.According to Rule 14 of the National Highways Fee Rules, the failure to pay the toll can result in the removal of the vehicle or the refusal of entry. If the outstanding balance is not paid within three days, the amount will double.About 1,150 toll booths on the country’s transportation network, including key expressways, will be impacted by the cashless mandate. Commuters have voiced concerns about delays due to inadequate network access, inactive FASTags and technological issues.The primary reason behind this move is to reduce long queues and traffic congestion at toll booths, which has been a significant problem on busy routes. The authorities expect smoother and faster vehicle movement and fewer delays by doing away with cash transactions, which will ultimately result in a more effective toll collection system. Adoption of FASTtag is already proceeding at a quick pace.If payment is not made within 72 hours, then double charges will apply. The amount is recorded in the ministry’s VAHAN system, the national vehicle database, and “appropriate restrictions” are marked against the vehicle if payment is not received within 15 days.