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NEW DELHI: Taking a step forward for rolling out satellite-based tolling on National Highways (NHs) that will do away with physical toll barriers, NHAI on Friday invited Expression of Interest (EOI) from companies to develop and implement the innovative electronic toll collection (ETC) system in India.
The successful bidder will be tasked to make the precise geo-referenced map and development of a scalable and robust real time satellite-based “toll charger software”.
NHAI plans to implement the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based tolling system within the existing FASTag ecosystem. Initially it will use a hybrid model where both FASTag-based and GNSS-based electronic tolling will operate simultaneously. “Dedicated GNSS lanes will be available at toll plazas, allowing vehicles using the GNSS-based tolling to pass through freely. As GNSS-based tolling becomes more widespread, all lanes will eventually be converted to GNSS lanes,” an official statement issued by NHAI said.
To leverage the advanced satellite technology, the EOI aims to identify experienced and capable companies that can deliver a robust, scalable, and efficient Toll Charger Software, which will serve as the backbone for the implementation of GNSS-based tolling.
The implementation of GNSS-based tolling will facilitate smooth movement of vehicles on NH network and it is envisaged to provide several benefits to highway users such as barrierless and free-flow tolling leading to hassle-free riding experience and distance-based tolling where users will pay only for the stretch they have travelled on an NH stretch.
The GNSS-based tolling will also result in more efficient toll collection as it helps to plug leakages and check evasions.
As of March 2024, more than 98% of user fee payments are made through FASTag at the toll plazas and in 2023-24, Rs 54,750 crore was collected. Currently, around 45,000 km are under tolling and this is likely to increase to 1 lakh km in next 10 years.
The successful bidder will be tasked to make the precise geo-referenced map and development of a scalable and robust real time satellite-based “toll charger software”.
NHAI plans to implement the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based tolling system within the existing FASTag ecosystem. Initially it will use a hybrid model where both FASTag-based and GNSS-based electronic tolling will operate simultaneously. “Dedicated GNSS lanes will be available at toll plazas, allowing vehicles using the GNSS-based tolling to pass through freely. As GNSS-based tolling becomes more widespread, all lanes will eventually be converted to GNSS lanes,” an official statement issued by NHAI said.
To leverage the advanced satellite technology, the EOI aims to identify experienced and capable companies that can deliver a robust, scalable, and efficient Toll Charger Software, which will serve as the backbone for the implementation of GNSS-based tolling.
The implementation of GNSS-based tolling will facilitate smooth movement of vehicles on NH network and it is envisaged to provide several benefits to highway users such as barrierless and free-flow tolling leading to hassle-free riding experience and distance-based tolling where users will pay only for the stretch they have travelled on an NH stretch.
The GNSS-based tolling will also result in more efficient toll collection as it helps to plug leakages and check evasions.
As of March 2024, more than 98% of user fee payments are made through FASTag at the toll plazas and in 2023-24, Rs 54,750 crore was collected. Currently, around 45,000 km are under tolling and this is likely to increase to 1 lakh km in next 10 years.
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