Source:
The government is set to introduce toll collection based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) with vehicles equipped with On-Board Units (OBUs). Once fully implemented, this new system will eliminate the need for physical toll plazas, enabling uninterrupted highway travel. Although a complete rollout will take a few years, it promises a smoother highway experience.
Distance Monitored by Satellites
A key feature of this system is that satellites will monitor vehicle movement and calculate tolls based on the exact distance travelled. Unlike the current FASTag system, where vehicles stop for toll deduction, GNSS will ensure seamless toll collection as vehicles pass through highways. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has amended the National Highway Fee Rules to allow this GNSS-based toll collection, which will utilize NavIC, India’s satellite navigation system.
Pre-Installed Tracking Devices
Each vehicle will be fitted with a GNSS-OBU, either retrofitted or pre-installed from the factory. This device will communicate with centralized toll software to calculate toll fees based on the vehicle’s journey. Fintech companies will handle the linkage between OBUs and the toll charger, similar to how banks manage FASTag.
Virtual Toll Booths
The system will also include virtual gantries, which act as virtual toll booths along highways. These gantries will communicate with vehicles via GNSS and automatically deduct tolls from user accounts using the existing FASTag payment framework. Toll fees will be calculated in real-time based on factors such as bypasses, expressways, or flyovers, with users receiving SMS notifications for each deduction.
Dedicated Lanes and Gradual Expansion
In the initial phase, GNSS-equipped vehicles will have dedicated lanes at existing toll plazas, allowing for uninterrupted travel. Over time, more lanes will adopt this advanced system. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) plans to make the first stretch of highways operational under GNSS tolling by mid-2025, with major tech companies expressing interest in developing the system.
Initial Focus on Commercial Vehicles
The GNSS tolling system will start with trucks, buses, and vehicles carrying dangerous goods, as they already have Vehicle Location Tracking (VLT) systems in place. Other commercial and private vehicles will gradually be integrated into the system by 2026-27.
Rollout Plan
The government has already geo-fenced the national highways, a crucial step in marking entry and exit points for accurate toll calculation. The system is expected to be operational on 2,000 km of highways by June 2025, with plans to expand it to 50,000 km over the next two years.
Author
