Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday that India would phase out toll booths and replace them with GPS-based toll collection within a year.
He said that while 93% of vehicles pay toll using FASTag, the remaining 7% do not, despite paying a double toll.
“I want to assure the House that all actual toll booths in the country will be demolished within a year. It ensures that tolls can be collected using GPS. “The money will be received based on GPS mapping (on vehicles),” Gadkari said during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha.
The minister stated that he has directed a police investigation into vehicles that do not pay tolls using FASTags. If FASTags are not mounted in cars, there have been cases of toll stealing and GST evasion.
FASTags, which allow for electronic toll payment at toll plazas, were launched in 2016.
Vehicles that do not have a FASTag must pay a double toll at electronic toll plazas throughout the country beginning February 16.
Making the tags mandatory would also serve to ensure that cars travel through the toll plazas smoothly, as the ticket transfer would be made online.
Gadkari said that new vehicles have FasTags installed and that the government would provide free FASTags for old vehicles.
What are FASTags and why are they important?
FASTags, which were launched in 2016, allow for electronic payment of tolls at toll plazas. Automobiles that do not have a FASTag must pay a double toll at electronic toll plazas throughout the country beginning February 16.
Making the tags mandatory would also serve to ensure that cars travel through the toll plazas smoothly, as the ticket transfer would be made online.
