The government has come up with new regulations for the toll plazas for 2025. The primary aim of these regulations is to revolutionize and facilitate both the processes of collecting tolls and to avoid any traffic jams, improving the travel experience of commuters as well. Ultimately through these changes, highway travel will be made easier and hassle-free for millions of commuters all across the country. Via emerging tools and renewed practices, the toll plaza system is about to change fundamentally.
FASTag Updates
The FASTag system has continued being the major means of toll collection but with some recently introduced rules aimed at further improving its efficiency. Users can, however, get 70 minutes after approaching the toll booth to remedy their FASTag status. A Fastag recharge will be refunded on penalty if it takes place within the first ten minutes of the attempted transaction in question; in such a case only a normal toll is required to be paid by a user. Furthermore, transactions read more than 15 minutes past perusing the toll reader might be subject to additional charges.
Hybrid Tolling System
Trial runs of a new hybrid system with ANPR camera captures and FASTag technology are being held on very specific routes. It is designed as a barrier-less tolling system so as to eliminate the stopping of vehicles at tolls. The pilot project is ongoing between New Delhi-Mumbai, and, depending on the success of this pilot, it will later be implemented on a national scale.
Satellite-Based Tolling
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has shared plans for a satellite-based tolling system that will allow for automatic deductions using satellite tracking and vehicle number plate recognition. This scheme aims to do away with physical toll booths entirely, allowing for seamless toll payment. While the nationwide rollout is still in the works, this revolutionary step is set to change the tolling paradigm completely.
Impact On Commuters
Every user will now have to keep their FASTag account viable, strictly monitored on transactions and timelines, under the new norms. Non-compliance would render the vehicle vulnerable to penalties like double toll charges, which aim to reduce disputes and increase transparency in toll collection.
Future Of Toll Collection
The new toll plaza rules are a sign of the government’s commitment to modernizing infrastructure and ensuring the safety and convenience of road users. With state-of-the-art technologies such as ANPR and satellite tracking, the system is now set to transform into a more efficient and user-friendly model. Hence, with the initiation of all these changes, highway travel should become faster, smoother, and trustable.
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