New Toll Policy: Fastag system ending! New toll policy is being implemented from May 1; Gadkari shared the details
The government is planning a major change in the country’s toll booth system. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the way tolls are collected on highways will soon be different. A new toll policy is set to be introduced by the center within the next 15 days.
New Toll Policy: The government is set to bring a significant transformation in the country’s toll booth system. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that the toll payment process on national highways is about to change. The central government plans to roll out a new toll policy within the next 15 days, potentially starting from May. Although Gadkari didn’t reveal many details, he hinted that the new system will leave no room for complaints regarding toll collection. This upcoming policy is also expected to phase out the use of FASTag.
Gadkari mentioned that the upcoming system will eliminate the need for physical toll booths. Instead, toll charges will be automatically deducted from bank accounts through satellite tracking and vehicle number plate recognition technology. While speaking at an event, he also provided an update on the long-delayed Mumbai-Goa highway project. He assured that, despite facing several challenges, the entire construction will be completed by June this year.
Once the highway is completed, travel time will be reduced and development will be promoted in the Konkan region. Gadkari admitted that the project was delayed for many years due to land disputes, legal challenges and internal family feuds. He said that there were fights between brothers, cases in courts and endless complications in giving compensation for land. But now those issues have been resolved and work on the Mumbai-Goa highway has picked up pace.
Gadkari also said that he is confident about the future of India’s road infrastructure. In the next two years, India’s road infrastructure will be better than the US. He also said that some highways like Delhi-Jaipur and Mumbai-Goa are still facing serious issues. Gadkari said that Delhi-Jaipur and Mumbai-Goa (highways) are among the black spots of our department. Many difficulties come with them. If they tell the truth about Konkan, people will not accept it.
What is the new GPS tolling system?
With the construction of roads in the country, the number of toll booths is also increasing. In such a situation, the government is going to replace the Fastag system to eliminate the booths and promote GPS based tolling system. The construction of toll booths increases the infrastructure cost. This also increases the cost of toll collection. To solve these problems, the government is going to bring a new tolling system. In this system, with the help of GPS, the toll amount will be deducted directly from the bank account of the driver or vehicle owner. The vehicle will be monitored through GPS. The toll amount will be calculated based on the fixed margin and time.
