Toll plazas may give way to satellite tracking, pay by distance plan

India plans to replace many fixed toll plazas with satellite-based charging on selected national highways by 2028–29. Compatible vehicle devices would track journeys on designated highways. Drivers would then pay for distance used instead of a flat charge at a booth. This could reduce queues and eventually remove much roadside toll infrastructure.

A 2024 pilot on part of the Golden Quadrilateral reportedly produced encouraging results. The system uses satellite positioning, digital road maps, onboard equipment, and payment links to calculate each vehicle’s tolled distance. For example, a driver leaving before a designated toll point could pay only for the stretch actually travelled.

The plan is not an immediate nationwide switch. MoRTH has funded a centre of excellence, while experts cite positioning, enforcement, privacy, cybersecurity, pricing, and device challenges. India’s 2028 target therefore marks a phased start, alongside FASTag and free-flow tolling systems.

GNSS-based tolling uses satellite signals to track a vehicle on designated highways. An approved device in the vehicle records its position, while digital road maps identify the tolled route. Charges then reflect distance travelled, rather than a fixed toll point.

For example, a driver leaving a highway before a toll point would pay only for the tolled section used. Germany already uses this approach for heavy goods vehicles, combining satellite positioning, onboard units, route details, and vehicle characteristics to calculate charges.

India aims to introduce it on selected national highways by 2028–29, after technical testing. A 2024 pilot on part of the Golden Quadrilateral reportedly produced encouraging results. However, accurate positioning, device availability, enforcement, cybersecurity, privacy, payment systems, and fraud safeguards remain essential. The transition is therefore expected to begin gradually, while cameras or other enforcement tools may continue.

Distance-based satellite tolling charges motorists for the road they actually use, rather than at fixed toll points. Satellite positioning and an in-vehicle device track travel on designated highways, then calculate the fee. This could remove toll plazas, queues, and much roadside equipment.

By contrast, FASTag and multi-lane free-flow tolling let vehicles pass without stopping, but still depend on gantries, cameras, or other roadside systems. For example, a driver leaving a highway before a toll point could pay only for the tolled stretch travelled under satellite tolling. Germany already uses satellite positioning and onboard units for distance-based charges on heavy goods vehicles.

India conducted a 2024 pilot on part of the Golden Quadrilateral, with encouraging results. The government targets select national-highway stretches by 2028–29, not an immediate nationwide rollout. Accurate positioning, onboard devices, digital maps, payment links, enforcement, privacy, and fraud protection remain necessary. Existing systems will therefore continue alongside pilots during a phased transition.

Satellite-based tolling is established, but it is not yet a worldwide standard. It uses satellites and onboard units. Charges then reflect distance or road use, rather than fixed tollbooths.

Germany already uses this approach for heavy goods vehicles. Satellite positioning and onboard units calculate charges from the tolled route and vehicle characteristics. Slovakia and Hungary also operate electronic distance-based tolling for heavy vehicles.

Singapore is moving from gantry-based charging to a GNSS system scheduled for 1 January 2027. Its onboard units will identify charging locations and calculate fees, although immediate pricing will not be distance-based. India targets selected highways by 2028–29, following a 2024 Golden Quadrilateral pilot, subject to technical readiness.

If vehicles no longer stop at toll plazas, traffic could move continuously, with fewer queues, delays, and slowdowns. It would track vehicles on designated highways and charge for distance travelled. Drivers would pay for the tolled stretch they actually used, rather than a fixed booth charge.

Germany already uses satellite positioning and onboard units for distance-based tolls on heavy goods vehicles. Charges reflect the tolled route and vehicle characteristics, showing how usage-based payments can work without stopping. In India, officials say this could also bring drivers using tolled roads into the payment network, even when they avoid existing plazas.

India is targeting select stretches by 2028–29, subject to technical readiness and nationwide tracking coverage. A 2024 Golden Quadrilateral pilot reportedly produced encouraging results, but geofencing, device costs, enforcement, privacy, and contracts remain challenges. Revenue could become more accurate because charges match distance, but weak compliance or fraud could create losses for highway owners. FASTag and MLFF would continue during a phased transition.

India’s proposed satellite tolling would track vehicles on designated highways and charge by distance, without toll plazas. Before scaling, India must improve location accuracy and nationwide coverage. It must also connect onboard devices with payments and digital road maps.

A 2024 pilot on the Golden Quadrilateral produced encouraging results, but exposed practical problems. Satellite readings and highway boundaries must identify each trip reliably. India must prevent fraud, manage missing devices, protect privacy, secure data, and provide a fair way to challenge incorrect charges.

Experts say 2028 should begin a phased rollout, not nationwide deployment. The centre of excellence and proposed IIT Kanpur roadmap must test corridor suitability and costs. They must also assess positioning accuracy, regulations, charging policies, enforcement, and existing concession agreements.

A road toll is a fee drivers pay to use a particular highway or section. Governments generally charge tolls to help fund construction, maintenance, and operation of costly road infrastructure.

Today, many Indian tolls are collected at fixed plazas through FASTag. The proposed GNSS system would use satellite positioning and an in-vehicle device to track vehicles on designated highways. It could charge by distance, so someone leaving early pays only for the tolled stretch used.

India aims to introduce this system on selected national highways by 2028–29, subject to technical readiness. Unlike current barrier-free systems, it could eventually remove toll plazas, though cameras may still enforce payment. Germany already uses satellite tolling for heavy goods vehicles, showing how roads can be measured without stopping.