FASTags May End Soon Across India! Satellite-Based Toll Based On Distance Covered Under Testing

The government will bring in a new system of toll collection and is scrapping the FASTag system to do so.

Pilot Testing

It will instead collect toll tax using the satellite navigation system.

It is reportedly already testing this as a pilot project.

1.37 lakh vehicles have been covered across the country in the pilot project.

The New System

Per this system, the toll will be paid according to the number of kilometres the vehicle travels on the highway

The toll amount to be paid is directly proportional to the kilometres travelled. .

Presently, the entire amount of the distance from one toll to another toll is collected from the vehicles.

So even if one is not going there but the journey ends somewhere in the middle, the toll has to be paid in full.

Emulating German System

This method has tasted success in European countries and the hope is that it works in India as well.

Almost all vehicles (98.8 percent) in Germany are equipped with satellite navigation systems.

The tax calculation starts as soon as the vehicle enters the toll road.

When it moves from the highway to the road without toll, the toll of that kilometre is deducted from the account.

Policy Change 

India requires a change in transport policy before implementing the new system.

A study report is being prepared by experts from Russia and South Korea.

The report may be released in the next few weeks.