The prospect of seamless drives without pesky toll plazas interrupting the journey may soon become a reality. Union minister Nitin Gadkari recently unveiled plans to replace traditional highway toll plazas in India with GPS-based toll collection systems. The transition is expected to commence as early as April this year, as announced by the Road Transport and Highways minister. A consultant has been appointed by the government to oversee the implementation of this modernized toll collection system on national highways.
Additionally, the Road Transport and Highways Minister revealed that the new system will undergo a pilot phase alongside existing FASTags. This strategic move aims to alleviate traffic congestion while ensuring motorists are accurately charged based on the distance traveled on highways.
Mr. Gadkari emphasized the government’s focus on integrating new technologies, including GPS-based toll systems, to replace traditional toll plazas nationwide. He expressed confidence in implementing these advancements within six months.
Notably, during the 2018-19 period, vehicles experienced an average waiting time of 8 minutes at toll plazas. The introduction of FASTags in subsequent years significantly reduced this waiting time to a mere 47 seconds during 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Since 2021, FASTags have been mandatory for all highway vehicles, with non-compliance resulting in double toll fees as a penalty. While waiting times have improved in certain areas, congestion persists in densely-populated regions, especially during peak hours.
How will GPS-Based Toll System work?
The GPS-based toll collection system will utilize automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology through cameras positioned along highways to deduct tolls based on the distance traveled by each vehicle. Unlike the current RFID-based toll collection method used by FASTags, this system monitors vehicle movements comprehensively.
As drivers navigate tolled segments, the device tracks entry and exit points, accurately calculating the distance traveled and corresponding toll charges. This dynamic pricing model replaces fixed toll rates, ensuring fairness for drivers covering shorter distances.
Moreover, motorists no longer need to handle cash, worry about change, or monitor their FASTag account balance. Toll fees are seamlessly deducted from linked accounts via a secure electronic payment system, eliminating errors and the potential for toll evasion.