The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways now plans to start a GNSS-based toll collection scheme on some National Highways. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari made this particular initiative public in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. The new system will coexist with the FASTag system, which has already undergone pilot trials on the Bengaluru-Mysore section of NH-275 in Karnataka and the Panipat-Hisar section of NH-709 in Haryana.
The new system using GNSS technology has been planned to increase the speed of toll collection and minimize traffic jams at tolls. An international workshop was inaugurated on 25 June 2024 to discuss the system with the stakeholders, whereas, on 7 June 2024, a global expression of interest (EOI) was published for other industries to join the program. The EOI submission was due on 22 July.
FASTag also employs radio-frequency identification, RFID – this entails having a sticker on the windshield that toll booth readers can or deduce toll charges automatically. Although faster in comparison to cash lanes, the FASTag still involves stopping at toll booths, implying that a car may be caught up in a traffic jam, especially during rush hours. They must have a pre-paid amount that can be used in easy and flexible toll collections.
However, in the GNSS system, these toll booths are imaginary. They are equipped with satellites, and the cars communicate with these satellites to give information about their locations on the road. Therefore, the tolls are calculated depending on the distances. This means no stop-and-go at toll booths and the ability to have a toll bill that is prepaid or billed after the service has been rendered.
The new GNSS system will be integrated with FASTag and will operate concurrently to avoid disrupting the network. FASTag necessitates that consumers do not change their tag frequently, while GNSS-configured devices may be needed in the future. Please keep yourself updated with the latest information on the automotive industry on TOI Auto.
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