Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday that a satellite-based toll system would soon be implemented on Indian highways, aimed at ensuring seamless traffic flow and reducing congestion.
Speaking at a media event here, the Union Minister said that the satellite-based system would deduct tolls from vehicles based on the kilometres travelled and help root out instances of higher fees that result from multiple toll booths over short distances.
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology represents a major upgrade from the existing FASTag system. GNSS automatically calculates the distance travelled and deducts the appropriate toll fee.
This ensures motorists pay only for the distance they have covered, leading to potential savings on every trip. The system will eliminate the need for traditional toll booths, easing traffic congestion and reducing travel time by eliminating long queues.
The satellite-based system is being tested on the Bengaluru-Mysuru National Highway (NH-275) in Karnataka and the Panipat- Hisar National Highway (NH- 709) in Haryana.
Once approved, the GNSS toll collection system will be rolled out in phases, initially covering major highways that connect key cities.