Govt Begins GNSS-based Toll Collection Pilot on National Highways

The government has initiated a pilot study using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for toll collection on two national highways, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari disclosed in the Rajya Sabha. The trial involves the Bengaluru-Mysore and Panipat-Hisar highways, aiming for a seamless, distance-based toll system.

The government has launched a pilot study to test toll collection via a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) on two major national highways, according to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's statement in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The highways involved in this initial phase are the Bengaluru-Mysore National Highway and the Panipat-Hisar National Highway.

Minister Gadkari elaborated that the pilot study is being conducted on the Bengaluru-Mysore section of NH-275 in Karnataka and the Panipat-Hisar section of NH-709 (formerly NH-71A) in Haryana. He mentioned that the plan involves deploying a GNSS-based Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system on selected highway stretches, augmenting the existing FASTag setup.

Earlier announcements by the minister revealed that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) intends to integrate the GNSS-based ETC within the current FASTag system, utilizing a hybrid model initially. This would enable simultaneous operation of RFID-based ETC and GNSS-based ETC. Gadkari also noted that dedicated GNSS lanes will be established at toll plazas to facilitate smooth passage for vehicles using the new system. Eventually, all lanes will be converted to GNSS lanes as adoption grows.

GNSS-based toll collection is designed to be a barrier-free method, charging road users based on the distance traveled rather than toll locations. This scheme is expected to ease vehicle flow on national highways, offering benefits such as smoother, hassle-free tolling and distance-based charging.

Additionally, this system aims to reduce leakages and prevent toll evasion, thereby improving the efficiency of toll collection nationwide. Gadkari also mentioned that a stakeholder consultation was held through an international workshop on June 25, 2024, and a Global Expression of Interest (EOI) was invited on June 7, 2024, to solicit wider industrial input. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)