‘Govt mulls monthly, yearly toll passes for passenger vehicles’

New Delhi: The government is contemplating introducing monthly and yearly passes in lieu of toll collection for private vehicles on National Highways as they account for only 26 per cent of total realisation, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday.

Addressing an event here, Gadkari also said the toll collection booth will be set up outside villages so that it may not disturb the movement of villagers. The minister said, “74 per cent of toll revenue comes from commercial vehicles. We are considering introducing monthly or annual passes for private vehicles.”

Private vehicles account for only 26 per cent of total toll collection, so the government would not suffer any losses, he added. The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has decided to initially implement a barrier-less global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-based toll collection system on national highways as an added facility along with FASTag,

Gadkari said.

A GNSS-based toll system is being tested to reduce traffic congestion and charge highway users by distance traveled. While FASTags cut average toll plaza wait times from 8 minutes (2018-19) to 47 seconds (2020-21), delays persist near cities during peak hours.