Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced on Wednesday that monthly and annual passes will soon be available for both private and commercial vehicles at toll booths in India. He also revealed plans to move toll booths away from village areas to reduce local disruptions.
Gadkari explained that private vehicles currently contribute only 26% to total toll revenue, with commercial vehicles accounting for the remaining 74%. As a result, the introduction of monthly or annual passes for private vehicles is seen as a viable option that would have minimal impact on overall revenue.
In addition to this, the Ministry is exploring a shift of toll booths to locations outside of village boundaries to prevent inconvenience for local residents caused by highway traffic.
The government is also working on modernizing toll collection by piloting a barrier-free, GNSS-based system. This new system, which will complement the existing FASTag method, will use satellite technology to track vehicles and calculate tolls based on distance traveled. Equipped with On-Board Units (OBUs), vehicles will communicate with satellites, eliminating the need for physical toll booths and helping reduce traffic congestion.
If successful, these changes could offer substantial relief to private vehicle owners while advancing the government’s vision for a smarter, more efficient transportation infrastructure.
