FASTag mandatory for all vehicles entering Tirumala from August 15

TIRUPATI: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has made FASTag, a Radio frequency identification technology (RFID) based system for e-toll collection in the prepaid digital format, mandatory for all vehicles entering Tirumala via the Alipiri tollgate from Aug 15.

The Tirupati trust maintained that the decision was taken to provide better safety standards, prevention of overcrowding and transparent services to the devotees arriving in various vehicles at the Alipiri check point, FASTag will be made mandatory for the vehicles entering Tirumala from August 15 onwards.Clarifying that vehicles without FASTag will no longer be allowed to enter Tirumala from Aug 15, TTD sources added that a FASTag issuance center has also been set up at the Alipiri check point for the convenience of those who do not have FASTag for their vehicles. TTD’s vigilance and security wing clarified that the security frisking mechanisms in place at the Alipiri tollgate will remain as they are irrespective of the mode of toll-collection.While there are twin pedestrian routes leading to Tirumala, Alipiri happens to be the only gateway to Tirumala as far as vehicular traffic is concerned. It is at the Alipiri tollgate that the TTD collects two way toll-fees from vehicles plying along the twin ghat roads.

With close to 8000 vehicles entering Tirumala through the Alipiri tollgate during normal days and around 12000-15000 vehicles heading to Tirumala during the weekends, holidays and important festive occasions, the manual collection of toll-fees at the Alipiri tollgate has often led to traffic blockades here in the past.Devotees have welcomed the Tirupati trust’s move to facilitate digital payments through the FASTag, which will enable faster collection of the toll-fees without manual intervention, eventually leading to a hassle free passage following the security frisking at the Alipiri tollgate.