Swaraat / Swaraat Editor Desk
Recent announcements by Union Minister of Road Transport & Highway, who holds the unique record of being the only minister holding a portfolio since 2014, is not as black or white like a zebra crossing with regards to toll charges.
The ministry was suppose to roll out new toll policy on April 1st but the latest update said that it is expected to be rolled out by 1st May, 2025.
In March 2024, the minister made a statement of ending FasTag toll collection process by introducing GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) based deduction in pro-rata basis (pay for the distance covered). This is expected to be covered under the new toll policy, but it will be rolled out in phased manner. Its better for toll users to fasten their seat belts as the road ahead seems to be uneven and uncertain in coming months.
On 19 October 2019, it was announced that FASTag will be made mandatory on all National Highways from 1 December 2019 and non-FASTag users will be charged double the toll. On 1 January 2021, FASTag was made mandatory at every toll plaza in the country. but later the date was postponed to 15 February 2021.
Introduction of new GNSS based collection within a decade of FasTag implementation and within four years of making it mandatory will make investment on FasTag by all parties including customers null and void.
Recently, on 19th March 2025, MoRTH Minister in parliament stated that consumers will be provided with reasonable concession on tolls. On the contrary, toll charges across the country has been increased around 5%. Technically, the roll back as concession would be on the rise on the charges, if it falls below 5%.
New FasTag rules, effective from 17th February, 2025 demands recharges to be completed 60 minutes before reaching toll booth to ensure faster payments and blacklisting penalties for late charges. When interoperability of FasTag is already existing, the 60 minutes deadline makes the application look old and undesirable, the introduction of such rules when another new application is being discussed as replacement makes the announcement unwarranted. To make the matter worse, there is no proper details on the penalties and other charges.
Earlier I used to wonder when in text books we used to read, ashokar planted trees and laid roads
After about 55 years I understand ashokar s great service
The Government has comfortably shifted burden of laying roads from itself to the public and further it collects road tax over anf above toll
Mockery of democracy