Government to Replace Toll Plazas with GPS-Based Toll System within Six Months

New Delhi (India), March 25, 2023: The Indian government is set to replace all existing highway toll plazas with new technologies, including GPS-based toll collection systems, within the next six months.

The move is expected to alleviate traffic congestion and accurately charge motorists for the distance traveled on highways. Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, made the announcement at an event organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Currently, the state-owned National Highways Authority of India generates ₹40,000 crore in toll revenue. However, Gadkari predicts this figure will skyrocket to ₹1.40 lakh crore in the next two to three years.

To enable automated toll collection without stopping vehicles, the ministry of road transport and highways is conducting a pilot project using automatic number plate recognition systems. While there has been a significant reduction in waiting times at toll plazas since the introduction of FASTags in 2020–2021, delays still occur in densely populated towns during peak hours. Gadkari also emphasized the need to reduce construction costs without sacrificing quality.

The new GPS-based toll collection systems are expected to further streamline the process and provide motorists with a more efficient and convenient experience.