Revolutionizing Highways: Satellite Toll Collection System Under Review

A high-level committee evaluated the potential implementation of a satellite-based toll collection system, focusing on security and privacy concerns, according to a briefing in Parliament on Wednesday.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, responding to the Rajya Sabha, announced the decision to develop corridor-based projects utilizing the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) FASTag system for barrier-less tolling.

The Apex Committee, comprising experts from industry and academia, emphasized the need for further deliberations concerning satellite-based fee collection systems. Currently, this technology is not deployed on National Highways. To boost tolling efficiency and enable seamless highway travel, the government plans to implement a barrier-free Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system at selected highway segments.

(With inputs from agencies.)