Toll-Free Travel: Private Vehicles Can Now Travel Up To 20 Km Daily Under New GNSS Rules
Toll-Free Travel
In July, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways revealed plans to test GNSS-based toll collection systems on certain national highways.
Toll-Free Travel: Beginning Tuesday, drivers with vehicles fitted with a working Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) can travel up to 20 kilometers daily on highways and expressways without incurring toll fees, as announced in a government notice. This update comes after the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways revised the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
What is GNSS?
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are integral to many aspects of modern technology, enabling services such as GPS navigation apps like Google Maps and various communication networks that we use daily. This technology is now being utilized for toll collection on highways in India.
New Toll Rules and Regulations
The revised guidelines, now known as the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Amendment Rules, 2024, stipulate that toll charges will be calculated based on the actual distance traveled, but only for distances exceeding 20 kilometers. According to the update, “For each section of a national highway, bridge, bypass, or tunnel, drivers, vehicle owners, or operators—excluding those with a National Permit—will not incur a user fee for up to 20 kilometers in each direction per day under the GNSS-based toll system.”
Future Directions for Toll Collection
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to incorporate the GNSS-based electronic toll collection (ETC) system into the current FASTag framework. Initially, both RFID-based and GNSS-based toll collection systems will function concurrently.
The ministry anticipates that the GNSS-based toll system will improve toll collection efficiency, reduce toll evasion, and minimize revenue losses. Additionally, it is expected to provide a more seamless, barrier-free tolling experience by charging users only for the precise distance they travel on national highways.
Pilot Programme and Future Plans
In July, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways initiated a pilot for GNSS-based toll collection on selected national highways, running alongside the current FASTag system. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced trials on the Bengaluru-Mysore stretch of NH-275 in Karnataka and the Panipat-Hisar segment of NH-709 in Haryana. A global expression of interest (EOI) was issued on June 7, 2024, with proposals due by July 22, 2024, following an international workshop on June 25, 2024.
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