How It Works: Satellite-Based Toll Collection System to Replace Toll Plazas

India's current toll plaza system is ridden with inefficiencies—long queues, traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and operational challenges. To overcome these, the Indian government is set to implement a new satellite-based toll collection system to replace toll plazas across national and state highways. This system will leverage GPS technology to collect tolls and provide a seamless driving experience electronically.

Understanding Satellite-Based Toll Collection

The satellite-based toll collection system, also known as GPS-based tolling, uses a network of satellites and GPS technology to locate vehicles and automatically deduct tolls without requiring vehicles to stop at toll plazas. It involves equipping vehicles with onboard units (OBUs) communicating with satellites to determine the entry and exit points on tolled road sections. The fees are then automatically debited from the linked payment source.

How is Satellite-Based Toll Collection Different from Fastag?

While Fastag for Car relies on radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology with readers installed at toll plazas, the satellite-based system uses global positioning satellites to locate and track vehicles for toll deduction. This overcomes the need for toll booths or gantries installed at regular intervals across highways. The satellite network offers ubiquitous coverage even in remote areas which may lack the infrastructure to install toll plazas and new Fastag readers.

Benefits of Satellite-Based Toll Collection

Mentioned below are the major benefits of Satellite-Based Toll Collection:

1. Reduced Traffic Congestion

The satellite tolling system will eliminate toll plazas, allowing vehicles to travel without stopping for fee payment. This is expected to reduce traffic bottlenecks and queues at toll collection points significantly. Vehicles can maintain travel speed, leading to faster transit times.

2. Lower Operational Costs

The satellite-based system does not need to construct and manage toll plazas, substantially reducing overhead costs and manual efforts associated with fee collection infrastructure and manpower. Automatic toll calculation and collection translate into major cost savings.

3. Environmental Benefits

Smoother traffic flow without idling vehicles waiting at toll booths will lower fuel consumption and car carbon emissions. This supports environmental sustainability by reducing vehicular pollution.

4. Enhanced Scalability

Satellite-based tolling technology can be easily scaled across extensive and complex road networks spanning state and national highways. It overcomes geographic and infrastructure barriers to rolling out electronic toll collection in remote areas.

Satellite Toll System Implementation

The government is putting a new toll system in India that uses satellite technology to track vehicles and automatically deduct toll charges. This device allows satellites to monitor how many kilometres you drive on the highways.

You will then automatically be charged tolls based on the distance travelled. The satellites record the exact entry and exit spots when you drive on a national highway. The software will use this data to calculate how much toll you owe.

Gantries with cameras will also be set up above highways. This will spot vehicles that don't have the tracking device installed. It will help enforce the idea that everyone pays their fair tolls.

Conclusion

Satellite-based toll collection presents a sustainable and scalable approach to modernising fee collection across roads and highways while enabling smooth traffic movement. With the strength of space technology and GPS connectivity, India is gearing up to implement an efficient tolling system to replace outdated manual toll plazas. This promises optimised traffic management, lower costs and environmental benefits in the coming years.