- By Abhishek Sheoran
- Sun, 13 Apr 2025 07:04 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The government is set to launch a new toll policy, which is likely to provide an average relief of up to 50 per cent to the commuters in toll charges. Besides, people will be able to avail of an annual pass for Rs 3,000 as a one-time payment for their cars. This pass will be valid not only on national highways and expressways but also on state highways. The toll fee can be paid directly through the FASTag account and there will be no need to obtain a separate pass for this, as per Jagran.com.
The new toll policy is almost ready and could be announced anytime. It also includes a resolution to eliminate toll booths within a stipulated time frame.
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The new toll policy will be based on a per-kilometer fee rather than toll plaza setups. Roughly, a car will have to pay Rs 50 for 100 kilometers. According to sources involved in drafting the new policy, cited by Jagran.com, currently, only monthly passes are issued, which offer relief at a specific toll plaza for locals. But under the new policy, an annual pass worth Rs 3,000 will allow a car to travel unlimited kilometers throughout the year without paying tolls on any highway or expressway.
The biggest hurdle in launching this provision was existing contracts with concessionaires and contractors, which do not currently allow such a facility. According to sources, to address their objections, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has agreed to compensate for losses. Concessionaires will maintain digital records of vehicles passing through their toll plazas, and the difference between their claims and actual collections will be reimbursed by the government as per a defined formula.
Initially, the government had considered offering lifetime passes for Rs 30,000 with a validity of 15 years. However, due to objections from concessionaires, variations in vehicle age rules across states and hesitation from banks, the plan was dropped. There was also low consumer interest in such long-term passes.
The new toll policy promotes barrier-free electronic tolling. Three pilot projects have yielded positive results, with accuracy levels reaching around 98 per cent. Concerns raised by banks about toll collection from vehicles exiting the road network without paying have also been addressed. Banks will be granted more authority, such as enforcing minimum balance requirements in FASTag accounts and imposing higher penalties.
Advisors working on the policy have suggested that banks be given a stake in the ownership of roadside amenities. The new policy is likely to be launched from the Delhi-Jaipur highway. According to another official, the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system will be implemented nationwide by the end of this year for barrier-free tolling.
The rollout will begin with heavy vehicles and trucks carrying hazardous materials. The entire network has already been mapped and new technologies such as sensors and cameras are being installed across the country. FASTag and ANPR together aim to fulfill the requirements of a modern toll system.
The central government is in talks with states to include their roads in the system, aiming for comprehensive coverage. Despite government claims, congestion and inconvenience at toll plazas continue. In the past 15 days, highway management officials have held two meetings with agencies, concessionaires and project directors to address this.
