India will become ‘toll naka mukt’ in 2 years, says Nitin Gadkari

 Toll barriers in India could cease to exist completely in the country if the government successfully implements a new GPS-based collection system. Nitin Gadkari said the government plans to implement the new system in the next two years.

Implementation of the GPS-based toll collection system will increase the toll income of the government by a substantial margin.

Anew GPS-based collection system, which has been finalised by the government, could put an end to toll plazas in the country. The Union road transport and highways ministry has planned to implement the new GPS-based collection system within the next two years.

Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said the new system will ensure seamless movement of vehicles in the country. In the new system, toll amount will be directly deducted an individual’s bank account, based on the movement of vehicles.

Speaking at an Assocham event recently, Gadkari said the government has finalised a GPS system with the help of the Russian government. “In two years, India will be toll naka mukt,” said Gadkari.

Implementation of the GPS-based toll collection system will not only help reduce traffic congestion but also help the government save money spent on maintaining such toll barriers across the country. Besides, it will increase the toll income of the government by a substantial margin.

It may be noted that all commercial vehicles that are manufactured now come with vehicle tracking systems and the government is planning to come up with a mechanism to install GPS technology in older vehicles as well, said the minister.

When the new GPS-based toll collection system comes into place, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) could see its income from toll collections rise to Rs 1.34 lakh crore in five years.

“By using GPS technology for toll collection we expect that our toll income in next five years will be 1,34,000 crore," Gadkari said. He also expects the toll collections to reach Rs 34,000 crore in this fiscal year.

The GPS-based system could bolster the FASTag-based toll collection that is already in place at national highways to reduce traffic congestion at the toll plazas. The use of FASTags has made toll collection transparent, resulting in a rise in government revenue from toll collection.