In FY24, India’s highway toll collection surged by 34.9% year-on-year to reach a five-year peak of ₹64,809.86 crore, driven by the expansion of tolled roads and increased usage, as per government figures. Toll revenue has seen a steady rise over the years: ₹25,154.76 crore in 2018-19, ₹27,637.64 crore in 2019-20, ₹27,923.80 crore in 2020-21, ₹33,907.72 crore in 2021-22, and ₹48,028.22 crore in 2022-23.
A senior official mentioned that a transition to satellite-based toll collection is anticipated to further bolster revenue. “We are conducting trials on various stretches, and based on the outcomes, the system will be gradually implemented nationwide,” the official stated. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is currently piloting a satellite-based GPS toll collection system, utilizing global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to ensure accurate toll charges for road usage.
While ANPR offers a cost-effective solution and can be swiftly deployed, GPS-based toll collection will require more time for transition, as all vehicles will need to be equipped with an on-board unit (OBU) or tracking device for seamless toll deduction on national highways. The total length of tolled roads in the country has surged from 25,996 km at the end of FY19 to 45,428 km as of November 2023, marking a remarkable 74.7% increase.
According to government data, over 79.8 million FASTags have been issued by November 30, 2023. The average daily toll collection via FASTags at national highway fee plazas stands at ₹147.31 crore.