Guwahati: The government is implementing trial projects to replace toll plazas with automatic number plate recognition systems, which would allow for the deduction of costs from the bank accounts of the car owners, according to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Mindmine Summit, Gadkari claimed that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has seen a rise in toll revenue of Rs 15,000 crore annually since the implementation of FASTags.
He said, “And now, we are going to launch automobile number plate technology (Automatic Number Plate Reader cameras) by which there will be no toll plazas,” without giving further details.
The typical wait time for cars at toll plazas was eight minutes in 2018–19. The average wait time for vehicles has decreased to just 47 seconds when FASTags were implemented in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022.
Satellite-based toll systems in which the GPS is present in a car and the toll is directly deducted from the passenger’s bank account and a number plate-based system were the two ideas the Union minister had mentioned last month.
He said, “We are in the process of replacing FASTag with GPS while utilising satellite, and on the basis of which we wish to impose the toll. There is good technology available in India, and technology is also present on licence plates.”
“We’ll decide on the technology. Although we haven’t made a formal decision, in my opinion, the number plate technology will eliminate toll plazas in favour of an advanced computerised digital system that will allow us to provide relief. No lines will form, and people will feel a great deal of comfort,” Gadkari added.