The 20-kilometre relaxation under the satellite-based tolling is not new and similar exemptions were also given to locals in the FASTag system as well, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain said on Thursday.
A new notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on a GPS-based tolling system was issued earlier this week that said that the road users can drive toll-free on a 20-kilometre section from both directions of the national highway if they use it daily. The new mode of electronic toll collection, based on satellite, will come into force next year.
Speaking to the media, Jain explained that the 20-kilometre relaxation under the satellite-based tolling is not new and similar exemptions were also given to locals in the FASTag system as well.
As per the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, those living in 20-km radius of a particular toll plaza can get concessions available for local vehicles.
Under the FASTag system, they had to submit the documents to the concessionaire validating the residence within 20-km of a particular plaza.
Once that is verified, they can avail the concession on the FASTag assigned to the vehicle depending on the applicable fee rules, the Ministry documents read.
Jain explained that these passes, under the FASTag system, are issued for a particular toll gate. But when the new tolling system, based on satellite, will be fully implemented, there will be no toll gates on national highways. The clause has been added in the amendment so that the locals can get the same benefit even then.
“There is no change in the rules. This is an enabling clause for the new system,” he said.
In the new GPS-based system, mechanical vehicles other than National Permit vehicles that make use of the same section of National Highway will be levied a zero-user fee up to twenty kilometres of journey in each direction once in a day.
“If the distance travelled is more than twenty kilometres on National Highways, then fee will be charged for actual distance travelled,” the notifications reads.
This exemption has been kept to ease the journey for those who live in the smaller areas around bigger cities and commute for work or education through a national highway or expressway, a Ministry official explained.
On September 9, the Ministry issued notification for the satellite-based tolling amending the national highway fee rule, 2008 for facilitating satellite-based tolling in India.
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Upon implementation of satellite-based tolling, user fee or toll will be levied based on a ‘pay as you use’ basis by GNSS based Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system. This will be a distance based tolling system.
This arrangement will be applicable to GNSS compliant vehicles, when the new toll collection system will be implemented on National Highways.
GNSS-based tolling is a barrier free method of ETC wherein the road users are charged on the distance they have travelled on the tolled Highway stretch.
The NHAI plans to implement the GNSS-based tolling system within the existing FASTag ecosystem, initially using a hybrid model where both RFID-based ETC and GNSS-based ETC will operate simultaneously.
Dedicated GNSS lanes will be available at toll plazas, allowing vehicles using the GNSS-based ETC to pass through freely. As GNSS based ETC becomes more widespread, all lanes will eventually be converted to GNSS lanes
Implementation of the GNSS based toll collection system in India will facilitate smooth movement of vehicles along the national highways. It will provide barrier-less free-flow tolling leading to hassle-free riding experience and distance-based tolling for users.
It will also help to plug leakages and check toll evaders resulting in a more efficient toll collection system across the country.
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