• To facilitate a seamless entry process for vehicles into the forest area, Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) has inked a pact with the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) spread across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

• IHMCL is a company incorporated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to carry out electronic tolling.

• The initiative aims to provide a FASTag based payment system at forest entry points and will extend the benefit of a collection of Ecosystem Management Coordination (EMC) fees via FASTag at various entrance points of the tiger reserve.

• This partnership between IHMCL and the forest department is a significant step towards promoting sustainable tourism and preserving natural resources by curbing vehicular emissions at the forest entry points.

• The FASTag system employs radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to enable automatic toll payments at toll plazas. FASTag on all 4-wheelers and above vehicles has been mandated across India. 

• By enabling FASTag-based payments at forest entry points, visitors can avoid long queues and delays, allowing them to savour the natural beauty and wildlife of these areas without any hassles.

Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

• Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is the largest tiger reserve in India with an area of 3296.31 sqkm.

• The Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Sanctuary was notified in 1978. It was declared a tiger reserve in 1983. It was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in 1992.

• Nestled in the verdant hill ranges of Nallamala, an offshoot of Eastern Ghats, the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is spread over five revenue districts and is an abode of rich biodiversity with many endangered flora and fauna.

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