Transition to GNSS tolling is in works, bids to be invited in last quarter of FY 2024: MoRTH secretary

He further said this facility has been extended under GNSS also. “If a person travels from point A to point B and comes back to point A, and if the distance of each side is 20 km or less than 20 km, then no till will be charged. So it is the same provision. Currently we charge a small amount at the toll gate to maintain that card,” said the secretary.

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) tolling essentially includes toll Charger Software, On Board Unit (OBU) Management and Validation & Enforcement. MoRTH secretary said that the Ministry is working on a Hybrid, Unbundled (OBU) and Interoperable Solution (software) for GNSS based Tolling in India.

“We have been looking at the GNSS system for quite some time. In 2022, there was an expert committee constituted under the chairmanship of Chairman NHAI. Then the last meeting we had was in January 2024, which was chaired by the Minister, where we concretized our thinking and the scheme was accepted. We sent our team to Germany, Belgium and Spain to study, where they saw various aspects of implementation. The team studied the Toll Charger Software, OBUs and Enforcement & Validation system and worked on a model best suited to Indian conditions. Then we held an international conference where there were 600 participants. Then we floated our global expression of interest (EOI). Based on the feedback of different companies, the team is working on Request for Proposal (RFP). It will be floated by last quarter of FY2024,” said Anurag Jain.

The secretary also said that initially GNSS will be implemented in hybrid mode like the initial days of the FASTag system. “We will have proper ANPR cameras, AI and Video Analytics to check the violations. We are also changing rules to check violations. All the commercial vehicles come for fitness, permit etc. every year. At this point they will be charged an additional penalty,” said Jain.

The Ministry said that in response to expression of Interest on GNSS, more than 20 applications in Toll Charger Software and around 15 applications in GNSS Lanes have been received.

The major national players include TCS, Infosys, TCIL (Telecom Consultant India Ltd.), Rail Tel Corporation. Apart from this many International companies such as Accenture, BE Mobile, Skytoll, Movyon, Kapsch, Location Mind, Vinci Highways, National Toll Payment of Hungry, Japan and France have shown interest in the scheme.

Based on suggestions in EOI and wider Industry discussion, the Ministry plans to implement the GNSS Tolling in India in 3 zones with Toll charger and Enforcement (Gantry + Mobile) in scope of the Agency. The OBUs shall be onboarded through the Issuer Entity.

The Manufacturers of AIS 140 VLT Devices (OBU), shall be accredited by the Toll Charger Agency and the Issuer Entity before onboarding them to GNSS Tolling System. An Independent agency shall be engaged by Govt/NHAI to supervise the accreditation process to ensure fairness and transparency in accreditation of OBU manufacturers.

Apart from this an Independent Agency shall also be engaged by Govt./NHAI to certify the Toll Charger Software. The bids are under preparation and are likely to be invited in the last quarter of 2024. The GNSS Tolling is likely to start in the first quarter of 2025.