No Toll Charges for Private Vehicles Up to 20 km Daily with GNSS: New Rules Take Effect
No Toll Charges for Private Vehicles Up to 20 km Daily with GNSS: New Rules Take Effect
Starting Tuesday, private vehicle owners with a functional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) can travel toll-free for up to 20 kilometres daily on highways and expressways, as per a government notification. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has amended the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, under the new guidelines titled National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Amendment Rules, 2024.
According to the new regulation, if the distance travelled exceeds 20 kilometres, toll fees will be charged based on the actual distance covered. The rule specifies that private vehicle users will not be charged for up to 20 km of travel in each direction in a day under the GNSS-based toll collection system.
The Ministry had earlier announced that a GNSS-based toll system would be introduced on select national highways on a pilot basis, alongside the existing FASTag system. Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari confirmed that pilot studies had already been conducted on the Bengaluru-Mysore (NH-275) and Panipat-Hisar (NH-709) sections.
Mr. Gadkari also mentioned that a stakeholder consultation, through an international workshop, was held on June 25, 2024, and a global Expression of Interest (EOI) was invited, with the submission deadline set for July 22, 2024.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to integrate GNSS-based toll collection within the existing FASTag system, using a hybrid model where both RFID and GNSS-based electronic toll collection (ETC) systems will function together.
The Ministry stated that this system will enable seamless toll collection, allowing vehicles to pass without stopping at barriers. It will also implement distance-based tolling, ensuring that users only pay for the distance they travel. This system is expected to reduce toll evasion and increase the efficiency of toll collection.
