It is very important to maintain the things in use to keep up their quality and when it comes to preserving the quality of transportation, tolls are a way of managing the same. Tolls are fees charged upon using roads, bridges, or other infrastructure. The funds that come in through tolls are then later used for construction, maintenance, and other operational costs.

The National Authority of India (NHAI) manages the toll collection system for the entire road network across the country. To make the system more organised and fair for the people, specifically for road transportation, the government of India introduced the ‘pay as per distance’ model. This new model aims to reduce the financial burden of the people.

Also Read: Can You Cross Toll Booths For Free? Yes!

What Are The Key Changes In The Toll Collection System?

The key changes in the toll collection system are laid down in detail below:

• Pay-as-per-distance model: With this change, people don’t have to pay a standard fixed toll fee but rather a charge based on the distance covered by them. This promotes fairness by ensuring that people pay only for what they have used.

• Exemption for short-distance: People will be exempted from paying toll fees if the vehicles have covered a distance of fewer than 20 kilometres. This was introduced in the new toll collection system to ensure that travellers making short-distance commutes don’t have to bear unnecessary charges. This helps especially those people who live near toll plazas and had to pay the entire fee before.

• Collaboration with FASTag: The changes in the toll collection system will be implemented through FASTag, a digital toll collection system that uses Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for automatic toll deduction from a linked bank account.

• Other technologies used: To implement the changes in the toll collection system, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) will be used for tracking the vehicles along with Onboard Units, and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

GNSS comes with virtual toll booths that help in measuring vehicle distance and location along with other related information like the type of the vehicle, the registration number of the vehicle, and the owner’s bank account details. GNSS will work with FASTag for speedy toll collection.

Read More: What To Know About The New FASTag Design By SBI!

Advantages Of The Changes In The Toll Collection System On Commuters

Various benefits come with the new changes in the toll collection system such as:

• Savings for short-distance travellers: People who travel a shorter distance. i.e. under 20 kilometres aren’t required to pay the toll fees. This ensures fair charging and reduces the financial burden.

• Efficient system: The changes in the toll collection system use various technologies together which would make the existing system more efficient and quick. This would reduce wait times and cash transactions.

• Infrastructure development: People used to take alternative roads to avoid paying toll fees before but the relaxed changes in the toll collection system aim to encourage people to use the roads without any worry.

• Good for the economy: The new changes in the toll collection system may seem like a reduction in revenue but the fairer system can have a positive impact on the economy. For instance, smoother transportation would lower the logistics cost which would benefit both, the businesses and the consumers.

Read More: New FASTag Rule Started From Aug 1, 2024! Learn The Details

Conclusion

The new changes in the toll collection system introduced by the government are a step toward making toll collection more user-friendly and financially fair for the people. The new model would work by incorporating various technologies like FASTag, GNSS, and others to make the system quick and efficient.

You can also reach out to Jaagruk Bharat through their community page with any questions that you might come across.

Important Links

Official website: https://nhai.gov.in/#/

Contact Information: https://nhai.gov.in/#/contact-us