The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has amended the rules to allow free travel up to 20 kilometres per day on national highways and expressways while levying a user fee for private vehicles fitted with the Global Navigation Satellite System. The rule, amending the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, aims at reducing congestion at toll plazas and charging tolls on the basis of actual distance travelled.
Free Travel On National Highways
Mainly, the new system will be GNSS-based toll collection. In support, the notification of the ministry has specified that drivers, vehicle owners, or persons in charge of private vehicles can travel a distance of up to 20 kilometres without any payment of a toll. This facility, however, shall be applicable to GNSS-enabled vehicles only. Where the vehicle travels more than the stipulated 20 km, a toll fee shall be payable as per the distance covered.
It works through the implementation of a GNSS device installed in the vehicle that will track the distance travelled and apply the toll accordingly. Vehicles without GNSS cannot benefit from this rule and may face penalties. If they enter the GNSS-exclusive lanes, they will have to pay double the toll as a fine.
Efficient Way Of Tolling
GNSS provides a much more efficient way of tolling; it would enable vehicles to ply through toll plazas without having to stop. No physical toll payment would be required, nor would the usage of FASTag be in demand. The GNSS device installed would be non-transferable, which would ensure the correctness of the vehicle and distance on which the toll is being levied.
This system will streamline the flow of traffic, especially for those very busy collection points that build up the queues. The Ministry feels that this will save time, which otherwise will be wasted waiting in heavy traffic to collect the tolls, making travel easier for drivers and reducing long waiting.
Those who do not install it will have to either continue with the present toll-paying system or pay fines. The bottom line is that it is the giant leap towards changing India’s highway management, the area where the GNSS-based tolling system has come in to modernise the infrastructure, improve the convenience for drivers, and smoothen the toll collection.
Cover Image Courtesy: NHAI/website
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