MoRTH plans barrier-free tolling with ANPR technology

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) plans to implement a new system for toll collection on highways. This system, called Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) FASTag, will allow for barrier-free tolling, reducing wait times at toll plazas. Recently, an Apex Committee raised concerns about security and privacy regarding the proposed satellite-based tolling systems. As a result, MoRTH has decided to focus on corridor-based projects for the ANPR FASTag system. This decision was shared with the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari explained that satellite-based tolling needs more satellite infrastructure to ensure accurate positioning. Therefore, the Ministry has moved ahead with a Request for Proposal (RFP) to create a barrier-free toll collection system. This initial phase will be tested at several specific toll plazas. The aim is to roll out this new tolling system by the financial year 2028-29. The hope is that it will improve efficiency and transparency in toll operations, providing a seamless experience for drivers on national highways. Last year, MoRTH sought ideas from companies worldwide to help develop satellite-based electronic toll collection.