• India’s new GPS-based toll system will replace existing toll plazas in just six months, according to Nitin Gadkari, the Road Transport and Highways Minister of India.
• The GPS-based toll system will use cameras to read license plates and GPS technology to deduct tolls without vehicles having to stop, reducing traffic congestion and improving waiting times at toll plazas.

The Road Transport and Highways Minister of India, Nitin Gadkari, recently reiterated that the government is working to replace existing toll plazas with a GPS-based tax collection system. Gadkari stated at a CII event that the government will introduce new technologies, including GPS-based toll collection systems, in the next six months to replace the country’s existing motorway toll plazas. According to Gadkari, this new technology is expected to reduce traffic congestion and charge motorists for the exact distance travelled on highways.

“The government is investigating new technologies, such as GPS-based toll systems, to replace the country’s toll plazas… In six months, we will introduce new technology “Nitin Gadkari, according to PTI. The ministry of road transport and highways is piloting an automatic number plate recognition system (automatic number plate reader cameras) to allow automated toll collection without stopping vehicles.

The Union Minister also stated that the state-owned NHAI’s toll revenue is currently Rs 40,000 crore and will increase to Rs 1.40 lakh crore in the next 2-3 years. He also stated that the average waiting time for vehicles at toll plazas was 8 minutes in 2018-19; however, with the implementation of FASTags in 2020-21 and 2021-22, the average waiting time for vehicles has been reduced to 47 seconds.

Having said that, there is still a need for significant improvement in waiting time at certain locations, particularly near cities, and there are still some delays at toll plazas during peak hours. The road transport and highways minister emphasised the importance of lowering construction costs without sacrificing quality.

New GPS Based Toll System in India

The GPS-based system is a technology that is already in use in many countries. It works by reading the vehicle’s licence plate with a camera, then analysing the position of the vehicle using GPS installed on the camera and deducting the toll accordingly, without the vehicle having to stop anywhere.

In the current FASTags system, a code is installed on the windscreen of the vehicle, which is read by a scanner at each toll plaza. After successfully reading the code, the scanner opens the boom barrier, allowing the vehicle to pass through.