Context: The government plans to implement satellite-based toll collection on highways before the Model Code of Conduct is enforced for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.
The technology has been under consideration for the past few years, however, the concept for the technology being used is not yet finalised and is still in various stages of development.
Major Highlights:
- The satellite-based toll collection technology will allow barrier-free movement of vehicles and they will not be required to stop for toll payments.
- Working Mechanism:
- Onboard unit:
- Every vehicle registering for the Global Navigation Satellite System of toll collection will be equipped with an on-board unit (OBU) that will be linked to a constellation of satellites via a GPS receiver.
- The OBU transmits the vehicle's location and identification information to the toll collection system. The OBU will also be linked with a wallet from which the toll amount will be deducted.
- Satellite tracking: Satellites track the movement of the vehicle and determine the distance travelled on tolled roads.
- Toll calculation: The toll collection system calculates the toll based on the actual length of the highway traversed by the vehicle and the vehicle's class (E.g., car, truck).
- Automatic payment: The toll amount is automatically deducted from the driver's prepaid account or linked credit card.
- Onboard unit:
- This will replace the radio frequency identification-based FASTag system that was rolled out in 2016 and made mandatory from January 2021.
- A total of 8.13 crore FASTags have been issued and a penetration of 98% has been achieved, till date.
RFID technology:
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) refers to a wireless system comprising two components: tags and readers.
- Reader is a device that has one or more antennas that emit radio waves and receive signals back from the RFID tag. Readers can be mobile so that they can be carried by hand, or they can be mounted on a post or overhead.
- RFID Tag is embedded on the windscreens of the vehicles for transporters. It can store a range of information from one serial number to several pages of data. The tags use radio waves to communicate their identity and other information to nearby readers.