India will implement a GPS-based toll collection system and do away with all toll booths within a year, Union Minsitry for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari informed the Lok Sabha on thursday.
Gadkari asserted 93 per cent of the vehicles pay toll using FASTag, while the remaining 7 per cent have still not taken it despite paying a double toll. The minister said he has instructed police inquiry for those vehicles which do not pay toll using FASTags. There are cases of toll theft and GST evasion cases if FASTags are not fitted in vehicles.
He also shared details of the vehicles scrapping policy, First announced in the Union budget for 2021-22, according to which the automobile industry in India will see a jump in turn over Rs10 lakh crore from Rs4.5 lakh crore.
Noting that the policy will be a “win-win” policy, the minister said it will help improve fuel efficiency, reduce pollution and GST income will also rise due to the purchase of new vehicles.
Accordingto him, the policy is aimed at reducing the population of old and defective vehicles, bringing down vehicular air pollutants, improving road and vehicular safety.