Minister Gadkari noted that the new electronic method of collecting tolls has been trialed successfully at ten locations in India.
Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced during Question Time in Lok Sabha on Thursday that the existing system for collecting tolls on India’s highways will be replaced in its entirety within one year. He noted that the new electronic method of collecting tolls has been trialed successfully at ten locations in India, and plans are already in place for subsequent expansion to all parts of the country.
Gadkari reiterated that “once the electronic system has been put in place, drivers will no longer have to stop at toll booths. This will mean the end of the toll collecting process.” He went on to add that an electronic toll collecting option would be available across the country within one year.
Gadkari updated parliament on the construction of approximately 4,500 highway projects that are currently taking place in India, which will have a combined value of over Rs 10 lakh crore.
According to the NPCI, through its NETC (National Electronic Toll Collection) program, they have created a more efficient way to pay tolls. The NETC program allows for tolls to be deducted automatically from the registered driver’s bank account using a FASTag label (R.F.I.D.). This label is affixed to the windshield of the vehicle. As a result, drivers can continue driving without stopping at the toll plaza.
The government’s goal with this technology is to reduce congestion, save time on this transportation corridor, and create a more pleasant experience when driving along these corridors.
