FASTag glitches on Bengaluru-Mysuru highway cause delays, spark outrage
Malfunctioning FASTag scanners at toll plazas on the Bengaluru-Mysuru access-controlled highway are causing significant traffic delays and frustration among daily commuters.
Regular users of the route, including bus drivers and private vehicle owners, alleged that the scanners often fail to read FASTag devices, forcing manual intervention that results in long pile-ups, particularly during peak hours and weekends.
A Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) driver who travels between Bengaluru and Mysuru daily, said the issue has persisted for the past 20 days. 'The FASTag scanners don't read the tag on our bus. We have to wait for almost five minutes for the toll staff to intervene and scan it manually. This happens frequently, and it affects not just buses but all kinds of vehicles,' he said.
He added, 'Due to these delays, I often get stuck at the toll plaza for nearly 30 minutes and miss my schedule. Passengers get agitated, and we are unable to stick to the timetable.'
Commuters also report that these issues lead to heavy congestion at Kaniminike Sheshagiri Halli toll plazas and other key toll booths along the stretch.
Mahesh Kumar, a commuter from Mandya, recalled a recent experience at the Kaniminike toll plaza. 'My FASTag wasn't being read. After five minutes, a staff member there told me the problem was with my FASTag and made me pay in cash, including a fine. But I had recharged the tag and had enough balance,' he said.
'When I returned from Mandya to Bengaluru later the same day, the same issue occurred. This time, I insisted it wasn't my fault. They scanned it manually and it worked. Clearly, the error was from the toll plaza's side,' he added.
Weekend travellers are particularly affected, with many saying that delays have become part of the routine. Yakshith B.R., a resident of Kengeri, said, 'Even when I leave home as early as 6 a.m. on Saturdays, I still get stuck in traffic at the toll plaza. The FASTag system often fails, and vehicles start queuing up quickly. It's frustrating.'
Many commuters are now urging the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to take swift action. They are demanding improved sensor technology, regular maintenance, and better on-ground coordination. Some even suggest that NHAI should consider temporarily opening toll gates when scanner errors occur, to ease congestion.
'If the FASTag system is failing regularly, especially during peak-traffic hours, the least NHAI can do is wave vehicles through when there is a technical fault. Commuters should not be penalised for system errors,' said Venkatesh P., a regular commuter in this stretch and a resident of Vijayanagar.
When contacted, officials from the NHAI said they had not received formal complaints but assured that the matter would be investigated. 'We have not come across any specific complaints about FASTag scanner failures on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway recently. However, we will look into it and take appropriate action,' an NHAI official said, declining to comment on the technical reasons for the recurring problem.
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