Frontier Works Organization (FWO) announced that it will facilitate commuters with M-tag registration. FWO also announced that it will provide complete support to National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Motorway Police (NHMP) to implement court orders.
To clarify, earlier, authorities in Punjab announced to ban vehicles without M-tags on motorways. This will come into effect from December 7, as reported.
Due to this, in an official Facebook post, FWO revealed that it took all necessary measures to facilitate commuters in M-tag registration. As per official details, it successfully designated express lanes at the M-2 toll plaza in Islamabad and M-11 Lahore Sialkot Motorway. As a result, it will ensure free flow for M-tag users, reducing congestion.
Read more: FWO to be awarded Sialkot-Kharian Motorway contract
Furthermore, FWO also upgraded M-tag registration facilities into drive-through centers. Additionally, it will increase the number of registration booths. Lastly, in the Facebook statement, FWO urged commuters to ensure sufficient balance in their M-tags to avoid any convenience.
“We shall provide complete support to NHA and NHMP to implement the court orders in true letter and spirit,” FWO said.
LHC bans entry of vehicles without M-tag
The Lahore High Court directed the NHA to ban the entry of vehicles without the M-tag on the M-2 Motorway.
Important to note, the judge termed the ban as an “emergency measure”. After the initial deadline, M-tags will become mandatory for all motorways.
The ban comes as the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) raised concerns regarding air quality at toll plazas. The PDMA told the court that the M2 Ravi Toll Plaza’s Air Quality Index is the highest.
Read more: Pakistan’s smart motorways strength for regional connectivity
To clarify, the processing of cars without M-tags creates traffic congestion at the Ravi toll plaza. This is a major contributor to pollution. However, with M-tags, the cars can easily pass through the toll plaza without stopping since the toll plazas can scan the vehicles from a distance.