RFID To Become Mandatory on Indian Cars

[visran]

Government of India has set it’s eyes on mandating RFID tags for Indian cars as a measure to help improve toll collection, implementation of economic road pricing in congested areas. World over, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and smart cards technologies are being used for transit applications to provide increased convenience to the end users. In India, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and NHAI have decided to use RFID technology for toll collection on the entire National Highways network. India has huge road network, consisting of National Highways (70,934 kms) and State Highways (1,31,899 km). RFID technology will enable toll collection without the vehicle stopping, ensuring seamless travel and efficient toll collection.

The Radio Frequency Identification tags will be positioned on the cars’ windshields but it is still not decided as to when the rule would come in practice. However, with such RFID tags in place, it will be possible for government to easily keep records of more than 9,98,06,214 vehicles at a time. The details will include vehicle details, insurance data and driver’s license details.

Similarly Smart cards, Biometrics and RFID technologies are now penetrating in variety of socio-economic applications as well. Some of the on-going projects the use these technologies promoted by Government of India are National ID, driving and Vehicle registratione, e-Passports, public distribution system, Financial inclusion, health insurance for BPL and Unique Identification Number.

Implying Radio Frequency Identification in India and using it to it’s full potential can however take some time owing to the number of cars currently plying on roads. This will also need a similar inheritance of technology by our infrastructure. Not just the highways, but the intra-city toll booths and parking places should also get into the nick of things and try to move accordingly in order to use the technology to it’s fullest.

Radio Frequency Identification must for Indian cars

 

[jihu123]

Re: RFID to be made mandatory for Indian cars

hmm. There is a huge way to go. Firstly, they have to set up the RFID tolls at all places. After that, they have to ensure that almost all the cars are putting the tags on their cars.
Well, IMO it is a sensible move but can't depend fully on the people here.

 

[visran]

Re: RFID to be made mandatory for Indian cars

hmm. There is a huge way to go. Firstly, they have to set up the RFID tolls at all places. After that, they have to ensure that almost all the cars are putting the tags on their cars.
Well, IMO it is a sensible move but can't depend fully on the people here.

Agree with you, lot's of work needs to be put in to make it work but just imagine if does see the light of the day then their would no longer be big Q's on any toll booth, just drive through the booth and receive the bill on your Email sounds very nice indeed.

Hope Govt acts seriously on this.

 

[sgiitk]

Re: RFID to be made mandatory for Indian cars

I think rfid should be an option as it is on some toll plazas. If you are a regular user then you pay in bulk and do not get hassled all the time. I hear when they tried to implement it it was short circuited by chaps trying to go through the rfid lane, since the queue was shorter. Obviously most of them were literate but not educated!!!

 

[chayan]

Re: RFID to be made mandatory for Indian cars

Rather than personal vehicles, they should try to implement RFID (i.e if they are serious) on the commercial vehicles. Reasons are obvious. It is much easier to implement the scheme through carriers/fleet operators. Most of the tolls are on the highways and would bring down corruption to a large extent since now the vehicle (e.g. truck) would not have to stop at the tolls. Also since with RFID, the owner would able to track the vehicle all the way and hence chances of miss-interpretation is reduced.
Also would lessen congestion if implemented properly.

 

[jihu123]

RFID alone won't work IMO. The regular system & RFID both should function together. So that, people from other states won't have problems while travelling far away places.

 

[chayan]

RFID alone won't work IMO. The regular system & RFID both should function together. So that, people from other states won't have problems while travelling far away places.

Yes, both system would be there side by side. RFID system is already in place in many countries. During my time in Sydney, I observed that there was the normal toll counter (like we have here) and also a pass through lane/channel. On top of the pass through lane, you would have the RFID detector installed.

The car on the other hand would have the RFID tag installed/stuck on the top part of the windscreen (a small black box - a little bigger than a match box). When the car passed under the detector (i.e through the pre-determined lane), the detector would pick up the signal and deduct the money from your account.

They would also photograph the number plates, in case there is future conflict (e.g person says he was not in the city though the system has deducted the toll). The imaging system (probably designed by IBM) is very accurate to the tune of 99.99%.