Satellite-based toll system to be rolled out by March 2024

FASTags have reduced the average waiting time at toll plazas from 714 seconds to 47 seconds.

Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, has announced that the government plans to roll out a satellite-based toll collection system in India in the next three months.

During the ongoing session of the Rajya Sabha, Gadkari revealed that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will begin implementing the new system on national highways by March 2024.

The government is said to be working on reducing waiting times at toll plazas and streamlining export release processes at land ports. FASTags have been instrumental in reducing waiting times at toll plazas. As per reports, the average waiting time at toll plazas has dropped from 714 seconds to 47 seconds.

The construction and expansion of National Highways increased by approximately 10% between April and November 2023, compared to the same period between 2011 and 2023. Data shows that 5,248 km of National Highways were completed by November compared to 4,766 km during the same period last year.

The pace of bidding for new projects though, has slowed down this year. Agencies had bid for 5,382 km of work between April and November 2022. But, this year, the figure dropped to 2815 km.

Source: ET Auto