Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The government has started work on a scheme that would see existing toll plazas replaced with a GPS-based tolling system.

The Benefits:

This might make toll booths on highways obsolete, and it would go a long way toward alleviating traffic congestion and long lines.

Apart from making travel "hassle-free for commuters," it will also help the government save hundreds of crores.

Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari stated that a concrete policy might be released in as little as three months.

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In Discussions With Foreign Corporations:

In India, the technology required to bring the GPS-based tolling schemes to life is not available.

As a result, the ministry has begun to communicate with some Korean and Russian players who may be able to assist in bridging the gap.

Gadkari stated that the government has "already received presentations from them" and that the ministry is open to ideas from Indian firms as well.

Implementation of FASTag Technology:

To make tolling more efficient and to assure smooth traffic flow, an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system using passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has been introduced.

From February onwards, all fee plaza lanes on national roads will be converted to FASTag lanes.

With 96 per cent coverage across the country, it is gaining traction quickly.

The rate of highway construction is expected to rise:

In other news, Gadkari stated that his government is working to increase highway construction speed from 40 to 100 kilometres per day.

The decision-making process and subsequent delays were the impediments to that happening.

To address this, the government is promoting a "time-bound, result-oriented, transparent, and corruption-free system."

(Source: Trak)