Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced on Wednesday that the government is looking into the option of offering monthly and yearly passes for private vehicles. He pointed out that private vehicles contribute just 26% of the total toll revenue, while commercial vehicles account for the remaining 74%.
Nitin Gadkari further explained, “We are looking into the introduction of monthly or annual passes for private vehicles, as it will not have a major impact on the overall toll revenue.” In addition, the Ministry plans to move toll booths outside village limits to alleviate the impact of highway traffic on local residents.
The government is advancing toll system modernization with a pilot project for a barrier-free Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based toll collection system. This new system will complement the current FASTag setup, designed to simplify toll payments and improve the highway driving experience. By using satellite technology to track vehicles and calculate tolls, the GNSS system seeks to remove physical toll booths and reduce traffic congestion.
Vehicles will be equipped with On-Board Units (OBUs) that interact with satellites, enabling a central system to calculate tolls based on the distance traveled. If rolled out, this system could offer significant relief to private vehicle owners and align with the government’s broader goal of creating a smarter, more efficient transportation infrastructure.