How will the GPS based tolling system work?
The vehicles will be equipped with an electronic device that can track their movement. The highway will be geo-fenced to create a virtual boundary. The system will use GPS or radio frequency identification technology. The software will recognize when a mobile device enters or leaves a particular area, and tolls will be charged based on the distance covered at the exit point of the highway. Since the system is sensor based, there will be no need to stop at toll plazas. Vehicles and users must be registered with the GPS toll system, which is linked to bank accounts that will be used to transfer toll payments.
How will highway users benefit from this?
The existing FASTag system, though faster than cash payment, still requires vehicles to stop at toll booths to enable the tag to be read. Also, the vehicle will have to wait till the gate opens. GPS tolling uses satellite based navigation and does not need to be stopped. Also, vehicles can be charged only for their actual journey on the highway. Presently, toll is paid at toll booths which are fixed between two points of tolling and no concession is available to the user even if he exits before completing the full run between the two toll plazas. The new system should bring down toll charges for travel on highways.
What is the progress on GPS tolling so far?
The Union Road Ministry has amended the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, to allow toll collection on the basis of distance traveled on national highways. This will make it easier to start GPS tolling. The first trial could be done on the under-construction Mumbai-Delhi Expressway which would be geo-fenced.
When can we expect GPS tolling in India?
The system needs a proper legislative framework, and a full launch is still years away. The government wants to introduce it in a phased manner. The road ministry is expected to amend the Motor Vehicles Act and frame rules to penalize offenders along with facilitating GPS tolling. However, the deadline for presenting it in Parliament has not been fixed yet. In addition, GPS will come with its own set of complications in computing the differential toll. Regulations and frameworks for these need to be developed first.
How is the FASTag system performing?
There has been an increase in usage since its launch in 2015, making FASTag mandatory in 2021. The penetration has increased from about 16% in FY18 to 96.3% in FY22. The total toll collection in FY18 was 21,948 crore, including 3,532 crores were collected through FASTags. In FY22, toll collection through FASTags increased sharply 33,274 crore out of the total toll collection of 34,535 crores. Still, the waiting time at toll booths is much more than the 30 seconds that was promised earlier. Also reducing the number of toll booths has not helped.
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