Update:
National Highway Authority has extended the M-Tag registration date at M-1 and M-2 Toll Plazas till June 12, 2019.
Previously:
The National Highway Authority through a notification vide No.5()/DD(ETTM)/NHA/19/104, dated March 5, 2019, has made M-Tag registration compulsory for all vehicles on M-1 and M-2 mandatory w.e.f. from May 2, 2019.
This is being done for motorists convenience and a free flow of traffic through the entrance and exit points of M-1 and M-2. While the notification doesn’t say it, but when asked by PakWheels, a representative of the National Highway Authority (NHA) confirmed that this notification is for M-4 motorists as well.
Long lines of vehicles are typically witnessed at the entrance point of Lahore, especially on Sunday evening, where motorists have to wait for a long period of time, to pay their due toll and enter Lahore. With the latest move, they will be able to drive through the toll station without stopping.
M-Tag is a pre-paid RFID chip which goes on the windscreen of the car. When the vehicle comes near the toll plaza, the scanner placed at the toll plaza automatically scans the chip. It retrieves data pertaining to balance, the location of the entry, etc. When you exit, it deducts the amount automatically—meaning there is no need to wait in long lines to pay the toll tax.
Where and how to apply for the M-Tag:
- One can go to Ravi toll plaza or other designated toll plazas where there is a booth/office for the issuance of M-Tag
- Required documents are: Original CNIC, valid driver’s license, vehicle registration book, etc
- Pay the desired amount on the spot to charge M-Tag
- Vehicle must have a number plate as the vehicle without the number plate or “applied for” shall not get the M-Tag
- Must have paid all E-Tag fines
See the complete details in the picture below:
How to recharge the chip:
- The process of transferring the amount and recharging the M-Tag is straightforward. You need to transfer the amount via your bank account, or you can also do it through easy paisa, or jazz cash at big outlets such as Hyperstar and Metro, etc
- Balance has no expiry date
- FWO has made a smart motorway app from where you can check your balance
It is pertinent to mention here that the government has been trying to discourage motorists from traveling on motorways without the M-Tag for long. Previously, it had made the same mandatory for commercial vehicles. Then M-Tag was made mandatory on certain segments of motorways. Now it seems, the government has gone for a uniform policy where all motorists on motorways, irrespective of their vehicle type are required to have an M-Tag.
Those without one will not be allowed to enter the motorways.
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What is the guarantee that all mtag users will have balance in their accounts? In case it is less, the toll booth operator stops cars in mtag lane, and insists on getting exact amount of fare resulting in long queues and delays.
FWO needs to extend a certain amount of credit and negative balance just in case anyone is not sure of the remaining balance in their account.
Further, toll booths be made to accept more than fare amount (e.g. putting 1000 in account rather than exact xyz amount payment) to quickly process payment with automatic fare deduction from account and keep queue moving.
what if vehicle registration is not on my Name. but i m using it. can i still get M tag by showing my CNIC, Registration book and Lisence