No Need to Stop at Toll Booths Anymore – A New Era for National Highways
While the rapid development of national highways has been widely praised, the increasing toll rates have also drawn significant criticism. Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, who has often found himself at the center of debates regarding high toll fees, has recently discussed a potential solution to this issue. In a recent interview with a national media outlet, Gadkari introduced the concept of a plan that would allow vehicles to bypass toll booths on national highways without having to stop.
This new proposal is aimed at addressing the frequent trolling and criticism on social media regarding high toll charges. Gadkari confirmed that the government is actively working on a plan to implement this system, which could potentially eliminate the need for vehicles to stop at toll booths. This development follows growing frustration among commuters, particularly over toll fees that seem excessive.
The key idea is to create an annual or lifetime toll system where vehicles pay a fixed fee once, either annually or for the lifetime of the vehicle, which will then cover all tolls on national highways. This initiative is part of the broader effort to streamline toll collection and reduce unnecessary delays at toll booths.
The specific annual or lifetime toll rates were not revealed but the government claimed that the rates will be calculated in a manner to accommodate daily commuters. Gadkari claimed that the rate can be measured in terms of the usage of the vehicle while simultaneously claiming that no vehicle need come to an end at toll booths. The payments will be handled electronically, possibly integrating with the existing FASTag system, which makes toll collection easier.
The toll system would use GPS technology and satellite navigation, specifically through the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), to calculate the distance traveled on national highways and apply the toll accordingly. Vehicles would no longer need to pull over to pay the tolls; the fees would be automatically deducted based on the distance traveled.
This plan aims to simplify toll collection and make travel more efficient by reducing the time spent at toll booths. The government believes that this approach will help reduce traffic congestion at toll plazas and promote a smoother experience for travelers.
In addition to the new toll system, Gadkari also addressed concerns regarding the quality of road construction on national highways. Referring to a recent incident in which a vehicle met with an accident on a road constructed by a contractor in Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Gadkari confirmed that the contractor responsible for the substandard work would be blacklisted. He assured that steps are being taken to ensure the quality and safety of roads under the government’s purview.
Overall, this new toll plan is expected to bring significant changes to how tolls are collected and is designed to provide a smoother and more efficient experience for road users. With the implementation of this plan, commuters may soon be able to enjoy more seamless travel on India's national highways.