Toll Booth: What is Toll Plaza Booth

25 April, 2024

Synopsis

A toll plaza is a payment station on highways where drivers pay a toll tax, calculated based on factors like vehicle size, weight, and road wear, with exemptions for certain vehicles like two-wheelers.
Toll booths, equipped with FASTag scanners using RFID technology, facilitate cashless, efficient toll collection, contributing to infrastructure maintenance and reducing congestion.
FASTag offers a convenient way to manage toll payments.

A toll booth plaza serves as a payment station on toll highways, where drivers are required to halt and pay a fee to continue their journey. Typically, a toll booth is found on major highways and state roads, these booths are a common feature. A series of these toll booths together form a toll plaza. It is important to note that the toll charges at these booths are applicable only to four-wheelers or larger.

A toll booth is a point where a fee, known as toll tax, is collected from vehicle owners using certain thoroughfares such as highways, expressways, and bridges. This fee is often referred to as the NH fee (National Highway fee). The specific pathways where this charge applies are designated as toll roads or toll plazas. The purpose of this levy is to fund the maintenance and development of these road infrastructures. When drivers pass through a toll tax booth, they contribute to this funding and receive a toll plaza receipt as proof of payment.

Toll tax amounts vary based on several factors such as the vehicle's size and its carriage weight. The purpose of the vehicle, whether for commercial or personal use, is also considered in the toll tax calculation.

Toll charges are determined based on the length of the road section within a particular project, typically spanning around 60 kilometres. For shorter road stretches, the charges align with the actual length. Maintenance responsibilities are assigned to private companies, each overseeing a specific highway segment. The toll fee calculation considers factors such as the vehicle's size, its load, and the potential road wear caused by these vehicles.

Factors Influencing Toll Tax

The NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) assesses the wear and tear caused by heavy vehicles on roads for determining toll tax. This includes the load capacity and the vehicle's size, which influence the Passenger Car Unit (PCU) used to calculate the toll tax.

Exemptions and Applications

It is important to note that toll tax is not levied on two-wheelers and pedestrians, especially on inter-state expressways. As per the Government of India regulations, vehicles with a PCU capacity of less than one are exempt, placing two-wheelers in this category.

Toll Tax Vs. Road Tax

Toll tax is specifically charged on designated toll roads such as national and state highways, falling under the NHAI's jurisdiction. When vehicles pass through a toll tax booth, they contribute to the development and maintenance of these roadways, evidenced by a toll plaza receipt.

In contrast, road tax falls under state government mandates and is a one-time tax applicable to all vehicle owners, irrespective of the vehicle size.

Role of FASTag in Toll Collection

The FASTag scanner, a key feature in cashless transactions at toll plazas, employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to scan FASTag stickers placed on a vehicle's windshield. This device is integral to the FASTag system, facilitating swift and seamless transactions and aiding in reducing traffic congestion at toll plazas.

Introduced as part of the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) payment system, FASTag has become a vital element of India's transport infrastructure. In 2021, the Government of India mandated the use of FASTag for all vehicles on national highways, aligning with its vision to promote digital payments, ease traffic flow, and foster an environmentally friendly ecosystem.

The Working Process of a FASTag Scanner

Here’s how a FASTag works at a toll plaza:

Vehicle detection: As an RFID-enabled FASTag vehicle enters a NETC lane, the scanner captures details like Tag ID and vehicle class, transmitting them to the acquiring bank.
Verification: The bank requests validation from the NETC Mapper, which confirms tag details.
Validation: If the Tag ID is recognised, the process continues; if not, the tag is deemed invalid.
Fare calculation: Post validation, the toll fare is calculated, and a debit request is initiated in the NETC system.
Debiting process: The NETC system requests the issuer bank to deduct the amount from the customer's account.
Confirmation: Following successful deduction, an SMS alert is sent to the tag holder, and the NETC system receives a confirmation.
Transaction completion: The NETC system then communicates with the toll plaza system to finalise the transaction.

Click here to do FASTag Recharge through PayZapp on your IOS phone.

Click here to make online FASTag Recharge through Payzapp recharge app on your Android phone.

Recharge Your FASTag with PayZapp

HDFC Bank's National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) FASTag Account simplifies the process of paying tolls. You can purchase FASTag both online and offline, and conveniently link several vehicles to one prepaid FASTag wallet. Among the various recharge options available, one notable method is using PayZapp UPI Payment app. This platform allows you to effortlessly recharge your FASTag, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience in toll payments. Download PayZapp now

*Terms and conditions apply. The information provided in this article is generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances.