With the constant widening of highways and expressways in India, there has been a focus on the requirement for efficient toll collection systems. This is more to regulate traffic movement, raise revenue for infrastructural development, and decongest tolling booths.
For effective vehicle management at an Indian toll plaza, by and large, it reduces idling time, leading to higher fuel efficiency and a comfortable experience for travelers. With technology advancement, India is exploring beyond the traditional RFID method and looking at other options for this process.
Traditional toll plazas could not cope with rising volumes of vehicles, leading the authorities to opt for electronic toll collection systems that would provide a frictionless and completely automated procedure with minimal traffic congestion and as little leakage in the revenues generated as possible.
To this degree, understanding the difference between GNSS vs FASTag becomes highly important in future highway planning and in the convenience of travelers.
What is GNSS-Based Electronic Toll Collection?
This is a GPS based toll collection system. GNSS is an acronym for Global Navigation Satellite System and refers to a satellite based toll system that operates from anywhere on the globe without any physical assets like toll booths or "N" number of RFID readers.
Vehicles equipped with GNSS are monitored through the satellites to determine the position of the vehicle and calculate the traveled distance on any tolled road. Depending on the traveled distance, the toll fee will be automatically deducted from the concerned account.
The toll system based on GNSS is planned to be implemented smoothly over interstate roads and national roads. Thus, the system has less human intervention, dynamic tolling, and makes use of real-time data for traffic and revenue management, unlike conventional tolling.
Moreover, technology in GNSS allows governments to build distance-based congestion-fee systems, thus discouraging expansion in highly congested areas and encouraging sustainable use of the road. Having fewer toll booths to slow down and pass through would mainly mean that GNSS tolling would be an eco-friendly practice that results in fewer emissions and consumption of fuel.
What is FASTag?
FASTag is a toll plaza in India developed under the NETC FASTag framework. It is a fixed RFID-based tag on the windshield. As its vehicle passes through any RFID-enabled registration plaza, the toll is automatically deducted from the associated wallet or bank account, minimizing waiting time and improving the toll experience, but still with the physical presence of a toll plaza.
Hence, by use of FASTag, a downfall of toll plaza level queues throughout highways in India has been observed in the congested hours of the day. FASTag has generally reduced congestion in toll plazas while providing for a more transparent mode of toll collection. Although the physical toll barriers with scanning points have created more transparency in the toll payment process, their high implementation still comes in the way of FASTag efficiency in congested corridors.
GNSS Vs FASTag – A Quick Comparison
As India transitions towards smarter mobility solutions, it becomes vital to understand how the GNSS Vs FASTag systems differ in their functioning and long-term benefits.
| Feature | GNSS Toll Collection | FASTag |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | This is a satellite-based toll system | RFID-based tolling |
| Infrastructure Requirement | Minimal; no need for toll booths | Requires RFID readers and toll plazas |
| Toll Calculation Basis | Distance traveled on tolled roads | Fixed charges based on toll plaza entry |
| Physical Barrier | Barrier-free, seamless drive | Boom barriers at toll plazas |
| Accuracy and Tracking | High precision via satellites | Limited to the RFID scanner range |
| Scalability | Can be extended to all roads nationwide | Limited to toll plaza locations |
| Real-time Data Sharing | Integrated live monitoring and analytics | Limited post-transaction data |
| Environment Impact | Reduces congestion and emissions | Moderate improvement over manual tolls |
Also read - How to Update FASTag KYC?
Conclusion
A GNSS vs FASTag comparison has revealed that, while FASTag has been a necessity for toll collection, the future lies in the satellite based toll system offered by GNSS toll collection. The GNSS toll collection system offers no pause for the on-moving vehicles, minimizing traffic congestion, and offering efficiency in satellite observation. Having already operated a few pilot projects, very soon, if not already, India will witness a revolution in toll collection with the promise of much smoother travel and well-organized highways. Until then, however, the current toll collection regime is FASTag, and soon GNSS will spearhead the digital mobility revolution.