Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that the government is conducting pilot projects to replace toll plazas with an automatic number plate recognition system, which will enable the deduction of fees from vehicle owners’ bank accounts. Speaking at the Mindmine Summit, the road transport, and highways minister said after the introduction of FASTags, the toll income of the state-owned National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) increased by Rs 15,000 crore per year. “And now, we are going to launch automobile number plate technology (Automatic Number Plate Reader cameras) by which there will be no toll plazas,” he said, without giving further details.
It appears that the government of India is indeed conducting pilot projects to replace toll plazas with an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system. This system would enable the deduction of fees directly from vehicle owners’ bank accounts.
The introduction of FASTags, an electronic toll collection system, has already proven successful in increasing toll income for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Now, the government aims to further enhance the toll collection process by implementing ANPR technology. With Automatic Number Plate Reader cameras, vehicles passing through designated points will have their number plates scanned, and the toll fees will be automatically deducted without the need for physical toll plazas.
While specific details about the implementation of the ANPR system were not provided in the statement, it showcases the government’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve transportation infrastructure and streamline toll collection processes.
For the latest updates and specific details on this initiative, I recommend referring to official government announcements, news sources, or the concerned department responsible for road transport and highways in India. They will provide the most accurate and up-to-date information on the progress of the pilot projects and any subsequent plans for nationwide implementation.
