New ‘ANPR-FASTag’ hybrid toll system to launch at select plazas, but nationwide satellite tolling is still in orbit
New Delhi — Let’s clear the air before your FASTag anxiety hits the roof. Contrary to what your overenthusiastic WhatsApp uncle may have forwarded, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have not declared a nationwide launch of satellite-based tolling from May 1, 2025. So no, your next toll fee won’t be tracked from space just yet.
What’s really happening is a more grounded innovation—literally. In a bid to make toll booths less tolling (pun intended), NHAI is rolling out an ANPR-FASTag-based Barrier-Less Tolling System at select locations. This hybrid marvel marries two high-tech systems:
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) – smart cameras that read your vehicle number like a hawk reads license plates, and
- The tried-and-tested FASTag – RFID-based toll deduction that’s already a familiar friend (or foe) to most commuters.
In this upgraded setup, vehicles won’t have to stop-and-go at toll plazas. Instead, the system will automatically identify your vehicle and deduct the toll—just like magic, but with less glitter and more sensors.
And if you’re thinking of pulling a fast one—say, skipping toll without payment—think again. NHAI will serve you a digital love letter in the form of an E-Notice. Ignoring it might just put your FASTag (and possibly your VAHAN-linked privileges) on a brief vacation.
The NHAI has already invited bids to implement this futuristic-yet-practical system across selected toll plazas. If all goes smoothly (i.e., no angry honks or camera tantrums), we could be looking at a country-wide rollout—eventually.
So while the satellite-based tolling system is on the government’s radar (and might come down from orbit someday), for now, your number plate and FASTag are still doing the heavy lifting.
Relax, your car isn’t getting a satellite tracker next week. Just keep your FASTag loaded, your number plate clean, and your driving smooth—Big Brother Toll isn’t watching just yet.
