Big changes are coming to India’s highways—and they’re all about making your drives smoother and faster. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari just announced that India will roll out a satellite-based toll collection system this month. Yep, no more waiting at toll booths!
This new system uses GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)—including India’s very own GAGAN—to track your vehicle and charge you only for the distance you actually travel on national highways. Pretty cool, right?
So… How Does This Work?
Every vehicle will need a small device called an On-Board Unit (OBU). It talks to satellites and tracks how far you drive on tolled roads. The system then figures out your toll and deducts it automatically from your linked account. No stopping, no scanning—just drive straight through. Think of it like FASTag’s smarter, cooler cousin.
What Makes It Different?
- Fairer Toll Charges: You only pay for the distance you travel. Short trip? Smaller bill. Simple as that.
- No More Manual Exemptions: If you’re just using the highway for short local trips (under 20 km), you won’t have to fill out any forms or make special requests. The system handles it automatically.
- FASTag Isn’t Going Anywhere (Yet): At first, both systems—FASTag and GPS tolling—will run side by side. So no need to panic if you’re not ready to switch immediately.
- Hi-Tech Monitoring: CCTV cameras and image processing tech will keep things in check, making sure tolls are accurate and there’s no funny business.
