Goodbye Toll Booths, Hello GPS: Explained - GPS-Based Toll Systems Which Could Transform Travel

In a move to eliminate long queues at highway toll booths, the Union government will introduce a satellite-based electronic toll collection system. This new system will utilize the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), leveraging the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) and On-Board Units (OBUs) to enable vehicles to automatically pay tolls based on the distance traveled. These satellite-based tolls will function alongside existing FASTag and Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems. To further streamline the process, exclusive lanes will be designated at toll plazas for vehicles equipped with GNSS devices, reducing the need for manual toll payments. Under the updated system, which utilises a GNSS for tracking, users of mechanical vehicles excluding those with a National Permit will be able to travel up to 20 kilometres without incurring any charges, which means that drivers, owners, or individuals in charge of vehicles will now be assessed a zero-user fee for trips covering a distance of up to 20 km in either direction on toll roads, including national highways, permanent bridges, bypasses, and tunnels. For journeys exceeding this limit, motorists will be charged based on the actual distance travelled. Additionally, it will help enhance toll collection efficiency by preventing revenue leakages and curbing toll evasion.