Govt. announces GPS-based toll collection system

Vehicles equipped with GNSS will be able to travel for free up to 20 km in each direction every day on national highways and expressways.

The government of India has announced a new toll collection system that uses a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to track vehicles. It will streamline the toll collection process as the vehicles won't need to stop at toll booths.

According to the government, the new system uses satellites to track the movement of the vehicle and users will pay toll only for the distance they have travelled. Vehicles equipped with GNSS will be able to travel for free up to 20 km in each direction every day on national highways and expressways.

GNSS will require a non-transferable “on-board unit” (OBU) to be fitted in vehicles. As a GNSS-enabled vehicle passes through the toll gate, the charger will receive a ping through the OBU. The payment mechanism will be similar to the current FASTag system. Non-GNSS vehicles entering GNSS lanes will have to pay double the toll as a penalty.

The new GNSS-based toll collection system is expected to be implemented by April 2025. Initially, it will be implemented alongside the existing FASTag ecosystem but will eventually replace it.

Source: Indian Express