As the Dec 2 deadline for the exemption of paying tolls on national highways approaches, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry, has come up with a plan to introduce its own coupon currency for payment at over 400 toll plazas to ease toll collection.
The ministry has proposed introducing "high security" coupons in several denominations ranging from ₹5 to ₹100 that will serve just like currency on national highways, reported the Indian Express.
These coupons, in ₹5, ₹10, ₹50 and ₹100, would be available through the National Highway Authority of India at toll plazas for purchase, and can be redeemed for paying tolls or receiving back change. The NHAI is deploying 90 officials for this scheme. It's unclear if these coupons can later be used at places other than tolls.
The coupons, which will have bar codes, hologram with NHAI logo and serial numbers, can bought with the scrapped ₹500 notes, which are still valid until Dec 15.
The proposal's aim is to ease toll collection given the current shortage of lower denominated notes to give back change, said the report. Tolls are also installing card swiping machines to accept payments.
It's not clear if this is a temporary measure or a permanent coupon system for the highways.