Ref: AICB/A-4/2021Dated: 24.05.2021
Dear Friends,
 
We are happy to share with you that recently AICB has achieved one more breakthrough in its advocacy efforts to ensure equality and equity for the visually impaired by working towards expanding the benefit of free FASTag and exemption from user fee at toll plazas across India for all persons with disabilities, including the visually impaired.
 
You may recall that previously the user fee at toll booths was waived, as per the National Highways rule, only for the mechanical vehicles specially designed and constructed for use of a persons suffering from orthopaedic disability. On 7th January 2021, National Highway Authority of India(NHAI) announced in the media that in addition to the above, all categories of disabilities, owning the vehicles, shall also be exempted from user fee at the toll plazas. However, there was no official circular regarding the same. We approached CGM, NHAI with the request to issue a circular in this regard and also requested that the FASTag website should also include this provision wherein all PwDs can apply online on the portal. We parallelly contacted IMHCL (the company which maintains the website of NHAI) to update their website immediately. Subsequently, an RTI was filed with NHAI to expedite the issuance of a relevant circular in this regard. Finally, on 12.02.2021, NHAI replied to the RTI stating: "Vehicles registered with Ownership type as DIVYANGJAN" will be exempted from paying user fee at Toll Plazas. They also informed that they have amended the NH rule 11, sub rule (e). After rigorous follow-ups through all means, on 26.02.2021, the FASTag website was updated with the provision "Vehicles registered with Ownership type as DIVYANGJAN" and now, all categories of PwDs who own a vehicle, and their RC book mentions "Ownership type as DIVYANGJAN", can apply on FASTag website and they will be exempted from user fee at all Toll Plazas across India and issued a Zero Transaction FASTag.
Please do let us know, if you face any difficulty in availing the above benefits.
 
Prof. Anil K. Aneja
President,
All India Confederation of the Blind
Ph. No. 9871495050
e-mail: anil.aneja@gmail.com