GPS-based tolls to soon replace highway toll plazas: Nitin Gadkari

On Sunday, February 11, 2024, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the highway toll plazas in the country will now be replaced by GPS-based tolls by April 2024 to make the running of vehicles smoother, hassle-free and faster. With the help of cameras placed on highways, the GPS-based electronic toll collecting system will use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), through which will automatically deduct the required amount by camera scanning the number plates of the vehicles.

“The Government is looking at new technologies including GPS-based toll systems to replace toll plazas in the country. We will bring new technology in the next six months,” Gadkari quoted.

Moreover, the system will also be introduced on a pilot basis in addition to FASTags.

This initiative additionally aims to charge the travellers the exact amount as they have travelled.

Since 2021 FASTags have been made compulsory by the government and the ones who do not have FASTags will have to pay double the amount. In 2018-19 the waiting time at the toll plaza was 8 minutes, but after FASTags, it was reduced to 47 seconds. This caused a decrease in traffic and more efficiency for travellers.

Moreover, travellers will also be worry-free to keep cash or check their FASTag bank balance while travelling. The toll fee will be deducted from one’s linked bank account through a secure electronic payment system.