Satellite-Based Toll Collection System: Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has made a significant decision to abolish the existing toll system and announced the implementation of a satellite-based toll collection system.
On Friday, July 26, he stated that the government is eliminating tolls and will soon introduce a satellite-based toll collection system. The purpose behind implementing this system is to increase toll collection and reduce congestion at toll plazas.
Meanwhile, let's understand what this satellite-based toll collection system is and how it will be beneficial.
For the satellite-based toll system, the government will use the GNSS-based tolling system, which will replace the current electronic toll collection system.
The existing system works on RFID tags that automatically collect tolls. In contrast, the GNSS-based tolling system will have virtual tolls, meaning the tolls will exist, but they won't be visible. Virtual gantries will be installed, which will connect with GNSS-enabled vehicles.
When a vehicle passes through these virtual tolls, the toll amount will be automatically deducted from the user's account. India has its own navigation systems, GAGAN and NavIC, which will make it easier to track vehicles. Additionally, the user's data will be secure.
In the current FASTag-based toll system, you have to pay the full toll amount even for short distances on the highway. However, with the satellite toll system, you will only pay for the distance you actually travel.
This means you can avoid paying extra toll taxes. The specific toll rates for different distances will likely be revealed once the satellite toll system is implemented.
This system will be implemented in India soon, but five countries are already using it. These countries are Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, and the Czech Republic.
