The government has made a major change in toll rules, bringing relief for vehicle owners. Under this new rule, private vehicles equipped with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) will not be required to pay toll tax for distances up to 20 kilometers. The new rules specify that owners of private vehicles fitted with GNSS will not be charged for daily travel up to 20 kilometers on highways and expressways.
In this regard, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification on Tuesday. The National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, have been amended, and now the new rules will be known as the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Amendment Rules, 2024. As per the new rules, no fee will be charged for travel up to 20 kilometers on national highways and expressways. For distances exceeding this, the vehicle owner will be charged for the total distance traveled.
What does the notification say?
According to the notification, except for vehicles holding national permits, if any other vehicle’s driver or owner uses a national highway, permanent bridge, bypass, or tunnel route, no fee will be charged under the GNSS-based user fee collection system for up to 20 kilometers of travel in each direction in one day.
Designated toll gates
There will be designated gates for GNSS-equipped vehicles. If any other vehicle enters this lane, double the applicable toll fee will be charged. This aims to reduce traffic congestion and ensure toll charges are collected based on the exact distance traveled on highways.
How does it work?
Vehicles are equipped with tracking devices in this system. Once the vehicle enters a toll road, the highway system tracks the journey. Upon exiting the highway, the toll fee is deducted from the vehicle’s linked bank account based on the distance traveled. Automatic number plate reader cameras are used to identify the license plate, and GPS provides registration and payment details. This system eliminates the need for toll plazas, saving time and fuel for travelers. The benefit is that vehicles won’t need to stop for extended periods at toll gates.
Decision to implement on a pilot basis
Earlier in July, the ministry had announced that it decided to implement a satellite-based toll collection system on select national highways as an additional feature along with FASTag on a pilot basis. A pilot study of the GNSS-based user fee collection system was conducted on the Bengaluru-Mysore section of NH-275 in Karnataka and the Panipat-Hisar section of NH-709 in Haryana.
What is the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)?
Under the GNSS-based toll collection system, toll is charged based on the distance traveled on the highway. In the current method, even if the user travels only a portion of the toll road, they still have to pay a fixed amount. The satellite-based system tracks the vehicle’s movement and calculates the fee with the help of an onboard unit installed in the vehicles.
Difference between GNSS and GPS?
The GNSS satellite system is a network that provides complete position and timing data, while the Global Positioning System (GPS) is a specific system under GNSS that uses satellites to determine location. Simply put, GNSS is a group of satellites that transmit data to receivers on Earth, while GPS is a network of satellites and receivers that provides information about a specific location.