The Indian government has officially invited proposals to implement a barrier-free tolling system on the Dwarka Expressway, which connects Dwarka in Delhi to Gurugram in Haryana. The expressway spans approximately 28 kilometres and serves as a crucial route for commuters travelling between Delhi and Haryana. Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, shared this development in response to questions in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Streamlining Toll Collection
The barrier-free tolling system is designed to eliminate the need for physical toll booths and barriers, allowing for smoother, uninterrupted traffic flow. This system is expected to reduce congestion at toll plazas and lower the cost of operating traditional toll booths. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) aims to assess the effectiveness of this system on the Dwarka Expressway before rolling it out on other fee plazas across the country.
Phased Implementation Based on Results
In his statement, Gadkari clarified that the initiative will be implemented in phases. The government will first test the new tolling system on the Dwarka Expressway and, depending on its success, consider expanding the system to other toll plazas. The project will also provide valuable insights into the feasibility of a nationwide transition to barrier-free tolling.
Hybrid and Future-Ready Tolling System
The tolling system will use the existing FASTag infrastructure, which operates on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Additionally, a hybrid model will be implemented where both RFID-based Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based ETC will be used simultaneously. The GNSS-based ETC will allow vehicles to pass through toll plazas without stopping, offering a more efficient and future-ready solution.
Transition to GNSS-Based Tolling
The government plans to gradually introduce GNSS lanes at toll plazas, allowing vehicles equipped with GNSS-based ETC to travel through toll booths seamlessly. As the GNSS technology becomes more widely adopted, all lanes at toll plazas will eventually be converted to GNSS-enabled lanes, further enhancing the tolling process and reducing travel time for commuters.
The introduction of a barrier-free tolling system on the Dwarka Expressway marks a significant step towards modernising India’s tolling infrastructure. With the potential to ease traffic congestion and lower operational costs, this initiative could set the stage for a broader transformation of the country’s toll collection system in the near future.
(With agency inputs)
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