Centre revises National Highway rules: Free travel up to 20 km for satellite system-equipped vehicles

• Recently, the MoRTH has issued a new notification allowing free travel of up to 20 kms per day for vehicles equipped with the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
• This change aims to ease congestion at toll plazas and ensure tolls are charged based on actual distance travelled.

Amendment Details

• The notification amends the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 to integrate GNSS-based electronic toll collection.
• Drivers using the same section of national highway, bridge, bypass, or tunnel will not be charged for the first 20 kilometres in each direction per day.
• For distances beyond 20 kilometres, the toll will be charged based on the actual distance travelled.

GNSS-Based Tolling System

• GNSS will facilitate distance-based tolling, where users pay only for the distance covered on a National Highway.
• Vehicles with GNSS will pass through toll plazas without stopping, using exclusive lanes without boom barriers.
• GNSS devices will be permanently installed in vehicles and vehicles without GNSS entering these exclusive lanes will incur double the toll as a penalty.

Prelims Takeaway

• Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
• GNSS-Based Tolling System