The Indian government has set new guidelines governing how cars pay tolls on national highways. With the new system, users of mechanical vehicles (not those with a National Permit) will be allowed to go up to 20 km for free. The tracking of the system uses the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
According to the new rules, travels on toll roads, which include national highways, permanent bridges, bypasses, and tunnels, lasting up to 20 kilometres in each direction, will now be subject to a zero-user cost for drivers, owners, or persons in control of cars. Drivers will be billed according to the actual distance travelled for trips that go over this cap.
Additional modifications to the regulations now include the use of many technologies, including FASTag systems, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) devices, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) on-board units. According to the revised legislation, various technical methods alone or in conjunction with them may be used to collect user fees.
A GNSS device is defined as a technology that is permanently installed in cars and is non-transferable. It links to the GNSS to collect user fees.
To optimise the fee-collecting procedure, the regulations stipulate that automobiles fitted with GNSS On-Board Units may be assigned a dedicated lane. If a vehicle enters this lane without a working device, it will be charged double the normal user cost that applies at that toll plaza.
GNSS vs FASTag
Virtual toll booths are introduced along roads and highways via GNSS technology, in contrast to the current FASTag system, which depends on real toll booths for vehicle monitoring and billing. For GNSS-enabled automobiles only, these virtual booths track a vehicle’s location and distance while recording vital facts about it, such as registration number, and bank account information.
Crucially, commuters will be able to quickly transition from FASTags to GNSS technology since the GNSS system will be compatible with the existing FASTag system. Although FASTag has improved toll collection, there are still lineups during peak traffic hours. GNSS aims to address this issue by ensuring a hassle-free and smooth travel. Dedicated GNSS lanes will be built at toll plazas, allowing cars equipped with GNSS-based ETC to drive through uninterrupted. As the use of GNSS-based ETC increases, all lanes are projected to progressively shift to GNSS-enabled lanes, ushering in a new age of toll-collecting efficiency and simplicity.
Benefits of GNSS-Based Toll Collection
The adoption of the GNSS-based ETC system intends to improve operating efficiency by dramatically cutting wait times and lowering average waiting periods from 714 seconds to 47 seconds, consequently saving travel time.
This proactive strategy will reduce traffic congestion and ensure a consistent flow of cars without the need for additional toll lanes. Furthermore, the absence of actual toll booths would expedite the invoicing process, with users paying just for the distance travelled, thus saving money on toll booth upkeep and construction.