No More Waiting On Toll Booths? New GNSS-Based Toll Collection System To Be Unveiled Next Week: How It Works?

Centre announced that it will introduce a new toll collection system based on the Global Navigation Satellite System by next week though the complete rollout will take a couple of years. Once fully operational, it will allow nonstop travel on highways, eliminating the need for physical toll plazas or toll gates. However, private vehicles will only be included in GNSS tracking by 2026-27 as part of the final stage.

The GNSS-based tolling system will start with trucks, buses, and vehicles carrying dangerous goods, as these already have the Vehicle Location Tracking (VLT) system in place and do not raise privacy concerns.

The new system's next phase will encompass other commercial vehicles, followed by the inclusion of private vehicles.

How New System Works?

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways amended the National Highway Fee Rules to allow toll collection using the Global Navigation Satellite System- On-board Units (GNSS-OBU) system earlier this week. Officials said the toll system will use NavIC, India's satellite-based navigation system.

In this system, a satellite or constellation of satellites tracks vehicle movements and calculates the toll or user fee based on the exact distance travelled. Vehicles will no longer have to stop at toll booths to have tolls electronically deducted. Also in the current Fastag system, vehicles don't need to stop at toll booths for toll payments as automatic toll deductions are done when vehicles pass through designated FASTag lanes. However, under certain conditions, such as FASTag system malfunction or entering a cash lane, the driver will need to pay the toll in cash.

In the new system, every vehicle will be fitted with a non-transferable GNSS-OBU unit installed externally (retrofitted) or come installed from the factory. This unit will work as a tracking device that will communicate digitally with a 'centralised/zonal toll charger' software that will be installed along designated highway stretches. The 'toll charger' will receive inputs regarding distance and time travelled from the OBU fitted in vehicles.

The installation of OBUs will be checked during registration, re-registration and fitness test.

The entry and exit of vehicles on highways will be tracked using virtual gantries that communicate with vehicles through GNSS. These gantries will function as virtual toll booths and will gather vehicle information and deduct the user fee using the existing FASTag ecosystem when the vehicle passes through.