New Delhi: The toll collection on National Highways, which was halted in the wake of withdrawal of high-value notes, will resume from the mid-night of December 2.

“The toll collection on National Highways will resume from mid-night of December 2,” a road ministry official said.

To ensure smooth traffic flow and reduce currency hardships, the government announced on November 24 that it has further extended the date for toll exemption on National Highways till mid-night of December 2.

The government had also earlier said the scrapped Rs 500 notes would be accepted at toll plazas on National Highways from December 2 mid-night to December 15.

As per the plan, sufficient swipe machines will be installed at toll booths with help from SBI and other banks in order to facilitate payments and easy flow of traffic.

The government had earlier announced its decision to keep the toll collection in abeyance till November 11 mid-night, which was later extended to November 14, 18, 24 and later to December 2.

The decision was taken to ensure smooth traffic flow across all National Highways and provide relief to the cash-strapped people lining up outside banks and ATMs after Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were scrapped.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ban on such notes to tackle corruption and black money, the government had on November 9 said no toll fee would be collected on NHs till November 11 mid-night.

The government’s earlier decision to accept the withdrawn notes at the toll plazas led to chaos in the absence of adequate change, causing massive traffic snarls.