Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) System on Indian National Highways


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350Z

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Driving on Indian highways will soon become a smoother and delightful experience. Yup, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has confirmed April 2014 as the official deadline to implement computerized Tolls Plazas across tolled National Highways in India. Find out more details in this article:

Computerized-National-Highways-India.jpg

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350Z
 
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Re: National Highways To Have Computerized Tolls By April 2014

It would be a great boon for travellers if implemented correctly. I use NH 4 often and everytime before the trip, shall ensure am carrying enough coins, 10Rs & 50Rs notes to avoid hastles at the Tolls [evil] When the elevated express way was opened connecting Ecity & Silk board juntion, RFIDs were introduced on a trial basis for regular commuters. Initially there was lot of confusion resulting in pile up at toll plaza. Not sure how it has been managed now.

Hence, any system can be utilised effeciently if and only if its planned well and implemented in a scientific way.
 
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Re: National Highways To Have Computerized Tolls By April 2014

By saying Electronic Toll Collection, I guess we can go without stopping at the toll entry & the specific amount gets deducted from our bank account. Right? :stupid:
 
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Re: National Highways To Have Computerized Tolls By April 2014

The article says usage of 'RFID'. By this what I understand is an electronic / magnetic recognition strip (ID card type) shall be affixed to vehicles (usually on windscreen) and can pass through the tolls without having to make a payment manually.

Few questions that I have - How are they going to manage this RFID distribution? Will it be prepaid or postpaid? Does it benefit only regular users? (like monthly pass or people can avail it on daily basis) etc
 
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Re: National Highways To Have Computerized Tolls By April 2014

The article says usage of 'RFID'. By this what I understand is an electronic / magnetic recognition strip (ID card type) shall be affixed to vehicles (usually on windscreen) and can pass through the tolls without having to make a payment manually.

Few questions that I have - How are they going to manage this RFID distribution? Will it be prepaid or postpaid? Does it benefit only regular users? (like monthly pass or people can avail it on daily basis) etc
Okay, now I got it. This similar system was launched in Dubai a few years back & its successful now.

The RFID there was issued through the RTO's office. And everytime you cross the toll. A toll fee gets deducted from the bank account. There was no monthly pass or daily pass available.

Instead of making the RFID mandatory. I would also like to see the normal toll system too (1 or 2 lanes). So that people who don't have RFID can pass by normal method. That's more sensible. I heard that this is the practice followed by Australia. [:)]
 
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Re: National Highways To Have Computerized Tolls By April 2014

Instead of making the RFID mandatory. I would also like to see the normal toll system too (1 or 2 lanes). So that people who don't have RFID can pass by normal method. That's more sensible. I heard that this is the practice followed by Australia [:)]
This practice was followed in India also buddy [:D] As mentioned earlier, in Blore when Electronic City - Silk board junction elevated expressway was started, they were using RFIDs on test basis. Dedicated lanes were set up. After that I changed my company and stopped commuting through that route. So dont know what is the scene now!
 
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Re: National Highways To Have Computerized Tolls By April 2014

This practice was followed in India also buddy [:D] As mentioned earlier, in Blore when Electronic City - Silk board junction elevated expressway was started, they were using RFIDs on test basis. Dedicated lanes were set up. After that I changed my company and stopped commuting through that route. So dont know what is the scene now!
Ohkay. I hope it doesn't get piled up like that instead of hassle-free driving! [;)]
 
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350Z

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Re: National Highways To Have Computerized Tolls By April 2014

Finally the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system will be inaugurated on October 31, 2014. Sharing the press release:
The launching of the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system has been rescheduled. The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari will now inaugurate the system on October 31, 2014 instead of October 27. ETC has already been installed at 55 Toll Plazas and their integration with Central Clearing House (CCH) operators has almost been completed on the Delhi-Mumbai route via Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. A pilot project for Interoperable ETC system of 10 toll plazas between Mumbai (Charoti) and Ahmadabad has already been tested and seamless ETC on this section is successfully in operation.

The Central Government has issued orders to incorporate ETC lanes as a mandatory clause in the contracts awarded for all the Highways projects in future. Action will be taken to include ETC system by means of supplementary agreement in those projects which have not yet been started. For implementing ETC across the country, a new company under Company's Act 1956, with equity participation from NHAI (25%), Concessionaires (50%) and Financial Institutions (25%) has already been constituted. The name of the new company is“Indian Highways Management Company Limited”.

The objectives of the proposed new company are collection of toll through ETC and to manage the project strategically, administratively, legally, technically and commercially providing services of central ETC system which includes toll transaction clearing house operations, helpdesk support and setting up of call centres for incident management and intelligent transport systems among others. Necessary amendments have already been made in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 for fitment of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)tag on vehicles for ETC.

Apart from Rs 2.48 crore released in 2012-13, an amount of Rs 17.288 crore has been released during the Financial Year 2013-14 for implementing ETC on 51 public funded projects operated by NHAI. Service Provider Agreement for CCH Services for Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) between Indian Highways Management Company Ltd (IHMCL) and ICICI Bank along with Axis Bank has been signed. The Government of India has embarked on an ambitious plan for building India’s highway network through various phases of the national highways development project (NHDP) which are being financed largely through user fees collected from the users of the improved highways. The existing National Highways need regular maintenance and up gradation for which fund mobilisation is an important factor. This underlines the need for large scale tolling of the highways.

The common method of toll collection is by having a vehicle passed through a toll plaza where it pays the toll. The user fee (toll) for the National Highways is levied as per the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 and its amendments. For projects completed for which agreements/contracts signed before 5th December 2008, the earlier set of National Highways (Rate of Fee) Rules, 1997 apply. The user fee is collected at the toll plazas as per the notifications issued under Section 7 of the National Highways Act, 1956.

At present there are some problems in collecting tolls. These are by way of not having auniform rate throughout various sections of National Highways in India. Secondly, BOT (Toll), BOT (Annuity) and Public Funded Projects have different toll collecting agencies, which is an impediment for a uniform acceptable standard of service to the commuters. There are many complaints of overcharging and undercharging. There are many complaints on non-reporting/under-reporting of the toll fee collected by the agents who are entrusted for the collection. There is congestion and crowding of vehicles at toll booths leading to wastage of time and fuel etc.

In order to remove the bottlenecks and ensure seamless movement of traffic and collection of toll as per the notified rates, Government had constituted a committee on Electronic Toll Collection technology for use on National Highways under the chairmanship of Shri Nandan Nilekani, Chairman, Unique Identification Authority of India. This Committee's mandate was to examine all technologies available for ETC and recommend the most suitable technology for local conditions. Considering user convenience, rate of acceptance and ease of implementation, passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based on EPC, Gen-2, ISO 18000-6C Standards for ETC technology was adopted by the Government.
fastag-main_625x300_41410926817.jpg

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This is a much needed service especially for people who cover a lot of states at once hence wasting time in the long queues of the toll at every border. Looking forward to this.
 
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Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) will now make Delhi - Mumbai commute via road easier. Press Release:
“The Electronic Toll Collection System is a step towards the realization of the Prime Minister’s vision of `Digital India’, said the Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, while launching the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) System for Delhi-Mumbai highway via Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, here today. The system would evolve into newer technologies and facilities like touch-card, debit card etc. in the near future which will contribute to the nation’s growth, he added. He dedicated the system to the nation, commemorating the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The FASTag is a passive RFID tag affixed at the centre of the windscreen. All you have to do is Recharge your Tag Account and drive through FASTag Lanes at the toll plazas, and appropriate toll would automatically be deducted from your balance. SMS alerts will be sent on the registered mobile number giving information on toll fee deducted and low balance.

Currently FASTag services are available at 24 toll plazas on Delhi-Mumbai section, and simultaneously, work is in progress to implement FASTag on all National Highways. Also, FASTag shall be extended for fuel payments and entry fee payments at State Border check posts in near future. FASTag is available at Point-of-Sales set up at certain bank branches. Currently, ICICI Bank is offering FASTag, and soon FASTag from Axis Bank will also be available. Very shortly such Point of Sales will be set up at toll plazas also.

The new ETC system will save commuters time, fuel, money and reduce pollution. This will go a long way in taking forward the nations growth especially when it is extended to other roads across the country.

ETC has already been installed at 55 Toll Plazas and their integration with Central Clearing House (CCH) operators has almost been completed. A pilot project for interoperable ETC system of 10 toll plazas between Mumbai (Charoti) and Ahmadabad has already been tested and seamless ETC on this section is successfully in operation.

In order to remove the bottlenecks and ensure seamless movement of traffic and collection of toll as per the notified rates, Government had constituted a committee on Electronic Toll Collection technology for use on National Highways under the chairmanship of Shri Nandan Nilekani. This Committee's mandate was to examine all technologies available for ETC and recommend the most suitable technology for local conditions. Considering user convenience, rate of acceptance and ease of implementation, the passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based on EPC, Gen-2, ISO 18000-6C Standards for ETC technology was adopted by the Government.

A web based portal has been developed through which National Highway users may easily access information related to toll fee and other details viz. applicable toll charges and concessions available for local vehicles near any toll plaza in the country, date of toll fee notification, commercial operation date, effective & due date of toll rate revision, name and contact details of key personnel on toll plaza, details of nearest police station, hospitals etc. in addition to facilities available near Toll Plaza(s). The portal is GIS based wherein Toll Plazas may be easily searched on a map.

State-wise list of all toll plazas along with their name, location, number of the National Highway and section/stretch will be displayed in this section. User can also type “name” of a toll plaza to get information of the toll plaza entered on the screen. User can click on “Toll Plaza name” to get further details of that toll plaza. A facility is also available to ascertain the Toll Plaza Location as well as the amount of fee that a user shall have to pay while travelling through a selected stretch of National Highway. Toll rates can also be accessed through mobile phones by sending SMS to 56070 with predefined text messages.

To standardize the process of data collection and creating of central data repository, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways envisaged automating the process of traffic surveys on National Highways and Indian Highways Management Company Ltd. (IHMCL) has been entrusted to execute this project. This project includes conducting seven-day traffic surveys, twice annually, at more than 1600 location on all National Highways across India. These traffic surveys would be conducted using portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) systems, which do not require any human intervention. Also the video of the Vehicular movement during the survey shall be captured and used for verification of survey data. A Control Centre would be established for the purposes of creating central repository of traffic data and for compilation, verification and analysis of data generated from traffic surveys. Through this project, crucial and reliable traffic data and analysis will be available at the fingertips, which can be further used for better infrastructure planning and traffic management.
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E-Toll Goes Live Across 275 Toll Plazas Across India From Monday

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced that the much anticipated e-toll facility would be made live effective April 25th, across India. 275 toll plazas have been equipped with Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, which will directly debit the toll charges from the passing vehicles.

Thus, the long awaited dream of non-stop drive across Indian highways is now a reality.

Termed as FASTag, this new e-toll facility will save approximately Rs 60,000 crore per year, as this much amount is currently wasted owing to long waiting queues at different toll plazas. India has 350 toll plazas as of now; and within a year, FASTag enabled e-toll would be rolled out across the remaining toll plazas as well.

Where To Buy FASTag?

NHAI has only designated ICICI Bank and Axis Bank to sell FASTags for consumers, besides purchasing them directly from the toll plaza. A one time charge of Rs 200 is applicable while purchasing FASTag; and minimum recharge is Rs 100, whereas maximum recharge can be Rs 1 lakh, in multiples of 100.

Interestingly, the recharge can only be done online using ICICI and Axis Bank’s gateways, as NHAI has not partnered with mobile wallets for the same. This is indeed one of the mysterious decisions, as mobile wallets could have made the process easier.

Instructions for Using FASTags

Every toll plaza will have several dedicated ‘FASTag Lanes’, which would be visible from atleast 70 meters to the driver.

NHAI has said that drivers should slow down and enter the designated FASTag lane at a speed of 25-30 km/hr. As soon as the sensor reads the RFID tag, it will turn green, and the boom barrier would be lifted to allow the passage.

In case the light is red, then it means that either that FASTag is blacklisted or it has insufficient amount. In that case, driver needs to pay by cash. Users would also receive instant SMS alerts for toll deductions and low balance.

Besides, NHAI has updated instructions for installing the FASTag on the windshield, and instructions for the toll operators on their website.

To promote usage of FASTags, Govt. is also giving 10% cashback on all recharges done within the financial year 2016-17. The cashback shall reflect in the account at the end of the month.

Link of active toll plaza:
Active Toll Plazas - FASTag ETC Program - ICICI Bank
 
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I think major manufacturers have started rolling out vehicles with the RFID tags since past year. My vehicle has one too. I was hoping that FASTAG can integrate with the provided RFID sticker instead of buying theirs.
 
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Till recently, I found zero advantage in using Fastag in most toll Plazas in Karnataka / TN / Pondy. Used to see every vehicle entering the ETC / Fastag Lane, I was considering Fastag as yet another Big Joke against Law abiding Citizens of India. The perception changed last week (when I went did Bangalore-Tuticorin-Bangalore). I saw attendants checking vehicles at the start of the Fastag lane and allowing ONLY vehicles with Tag to enter the dedicated lanes. Saw it in ALL Tool booths all the way from "Hosur Road Elevated Expressway Toll till Kapalur Toll Booth (near Madurai)".

Vehicles w/o Tag were asked to take other lanes. Even in the "jam-packed" Thopur Toll Booth, attendants allowed ONLY those vehicles with Tags. THAT is GREAT for those with Tags.

Technically I should have got a Tag at any one of the many Tool Plazas, but I was told, they are not available and can be bought from ICICI Branch only.

Checked the NHAI website and found that I have to fill a form online and go to a PoS (with ID, Address Proof and Car's Regn Certificate with Original and Photocopies) to get the Tag. I feel they think they are selling Ballistic Missiles instead of Fastags. Grrrrrr...

Make it simple and have two more dedicated lanes to benefit more vehicle owners.. The barrier can be installed at the beginning of the Toll lane, to ensure drivers know that they are entering a Fastag lane.

BTW, I noticed many TN State Govt buses have Tags and zip past the TollBooths. Clap Clap.
 
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