Gujarat has rolled out a new technology that collects toll fees automatically while vehicles continue to move, marking a first-of-its-kind introduction in the state.
Toll charges are collected from motorists for using highways, bridges, tunnels or specific roads, with the revenue used to recover construction, maintenance and upgrade costs. In India, these fees are collected by the National Highways Authority of India, state highways departments or private operators.
Until now, FASTag enabled electronic toll payments through a sticker affixed to a vehicle’s windshield, allowing direct debit from a linked bank account and reducing the need to wait in long queues. As the next step, the Suryasi toll plaza in Gujarat has introduced a system designed to charge vehicles without requiring them to stop.
Under the new setup, sensors and cameras identify vehicles and trigger automatic toll collection. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that India’s first barrier-free tolling system has begun on the NH-48 highway in Gujarat.
The initiative aims to reduce traffic congestion and travel time, improve fuel efficiency and cut vehicle emissions. Gadkari said the move is being seen as a key step in digitising the country’s highway infrastructure.
