Govt Clarifies: No Nationwide Satellite-Based Tolling from May 1

21 Apr 2025 CW Team

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has clarified that no decision has been made to launch a nationwide Satellite-based Tolling System from May 1, 2025, contrary to recent media reports. The existing FASTag system will not be replaced at this stage.

Instead, the government is introducing an ANPR-FASTag-based Barrier-Less Tolling System at selected toll plazas. This hybrid model combines Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology with the existing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based FASTag system. The goal is to ensure seamless, non-stop toll collection and reduce travel time at toll booths.

Vehicles will be charged through ANPR cameras and FASTag readers, and violators may receive e-notices, face FASTag suspension, or other VAHAN-related penalties in case of non-payment.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited bids for pilot implementations of this system. A decision on nationwide rollout will depend on its performance, efficiency, and user feedback.

(PIB)

Infrastructure Transport

12 Mar 2026

Kavach 4.0 Commissioned on Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah

"Kavach version four has been commissioned on 1,452 route km, covering the high density Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah corridors. The rollout included laying 8,570 km of optical fibre, installation of 1,100 telecom towers, deployment of trackside equipment over 6,776 RKm and establishment of 767 station data centres. Trackside implementation has been taken up on 24,427 RKm covering Golden Quadrilateral, Golden Diagonal and High Density Network sections. The programme aims to strengthen signalling and train protection on key routes.Kavach is an indigenously developed automatic train protecti..

Railways Advance Kalyan–Murbad Line And Mumbai Capacity Expansion

"Indian Railways is advancing multiple rail infrastructure projects in Maharashtra, including the sanctioned Kalyan–Murbad new line and sizable investments under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project and the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project. The Kalyan–Murbad 28 km new line has been sanctioned at Rs 8.36 billion (bn) on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis with the Government of Maharashtra and has been declared a Special Railway Project for land acquisition; proposals covering 214 hectares are at various stages of acquisition. Budgetary outlay for projects falling fully or partly in Maharash..

Parliamentary Panel Flags Funding Gaps in Heavy Industries

"The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry (Rajya Sabha) presented its 332nd report on the Demands for Grants 2026-27 of the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI). Figures converted from crore and lakh are expressed in million (mn). The Budget Estimates 2026-27 for the Ministry stand at Rs 79,399 mn against a projected requirement of Rs 94,843.2 mn, a shortfall of about 16 per cent, with revenue at Rs 79,370.8 mn and capital compressed to Rs 28.2 mn from Rs 5,020 mn.The committee flagged recurring BE-to-RE compression and declining revised estimate utilisation, and calle..