Now drive tension free for 20 kms, you won't have to pay even 1 rupee as toll, but the government has put this condition

Now drive tension free for 20 kms, you won't have to pay even 1 rupee as toll, but the government has put this condition

Highlights

National Highway Fee Amendment Rules, 2024 came into force in the country.There will be no toll for a 20 km journey on the highway.The rule has been implemented for GPS navigation based users.

New Delhi. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Tuesday announced significant changes in the National Highway Fee Rules. The new rules, called the “National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Amendment Rules, 2024”, introduce a zero-fee policy for the first 20 kilometres of travel on national highways. That is, you will not have to pay any toll for a journey of 20 kilometres.

This provision will be applicable only for those vehicles which are equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) on-board unit. As per the latest amendment, vehicles other than those with national permit will not have to pay any fee for the first 20 kms of travel on national highway, permanent bridge, bypass or tunnel.

Toll will be charged only if the vehicle is driven more than 20 km
If a distance of more than 20 km is travelled in a day, users will be charged toll only for the actual travel distance over 20 km. The change is aimed at reducing the financial burden on drivers for short journeys, while maintaining a fair fee structure for longer journeys.

The order issued by the ministry said, “Under the Global Navigation Satellite System based user fee collection system, the driver, owner or person in charge of a motor vehicle other than a national permit vehicle using the same section will be charged zero-fee for travel up to 20 km per direction. If the distance exceeds 20 km, then only the actual travel distance will be charged.”

Earlier, in July, the Road Ministry had announced the implementation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based toll collection system on a pilot basis on select national highways as an additional feature along with FASTag.

Tags: Auto News, Highway toll

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Bye FASTag, hi GPS-based toll collection: Is India ready?

Bye FASTag, hi GPS-based toll collection: Is India ready?

  • The Indian government is planning to introduce a GPS-based toll collection system across the country, replacing the current FASTag technology.
The Indian government is planning to introduce a GPS-based toll collection system across the country, replacing the current FASTag technology. (AP)

Ever since Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari announced that the government is planning to deploy a Global Positioning System (GPS) based toll collection system across India, the new technology has been making headlines. With this strategy, the government is planning to remove all the toll plazas or toll collection booths and enable GPS-based toll collection. This comes after FASTag became mandatory across India just a few years ago for all four-wheeled vehicles to enable automatic deduction of toll charges through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.

Under the FASTag regime, the vehicles come with a FASTag chip-based sticker positioned on the windshield of the vehicle. When the vehicle passes through the toll gate, a scanner scans the FASTag sticker and deducts the specific amount automatically. This system has significantly reduced the waiting time at the toll plaza for vehicles compared to the era when toll charges were paid through cash or card. Eventually, this technology has resulted in reduced travelling time for the vehicles, better transparency and lower congestion at toll plazas. Now, the government is aiming to bring a more updated technology for this function, which will work as a GPS-based system.

(To buy a new FASTag, click here)

How GPS-based toll collection will work?

Just like the FASTag-based toll collection requires all vehicles to have a FASTag, the GPS-based toll collection system will make it necessary for all vehicles to have a GPS. The government plans to deploy this technology through a microcontroller with 3G and GPS connectivity. This will allow the NHAi or the regulatory agency to track the vehicle’s route through the GPS device onboard the car. It will transmit the data of how many toll roads the vehicles are taking, and how many toll gates the vehicles are passing through. Based on that, the estimated toll tax will be charged by the vehicle owner.

Also Read : How to buy and activate FASTag online: Key steps

Difference between FASTag and GPS-based toll collection

FASTag uses RFID technology for automatic deduction of toll tax bringing convenience and transparency. It is like a wallet that allows the system to deduct the toll charges automatically whenever the vehicle passes through the toll plaza. The FASTag account is directly linked to the bank account or wallet.

On the other hand, the GPS-based toll collection will differ from FASTag. It will track the vehicle throughout the journey, which brings the concern related to privacy, as the system will be able to monitor the vehicle all along. The system will be vigilant of vehicle movement and collect toll tax through GPS.

First Published Date: 18 Mar 2024, 13:08 PM IST


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