Editors Page DEC 2016 – JAN 2017

India is expected to leapfrog the world in digital payment technology said, industry experts at a Huddle 2017 session on “Cashless India: A road map for the future. Going cashless is imperative for India to ignite growth among 400 million people. Mobile technologies and services are set to give a sense of comfort for the people especially while travelling. This issue of TrafficInfraTech focuses on how rise of mobile devices and digital wallets can make transactions in traffic and transport sector easy and more convenient. The government has already partnered with digital wallet companies for its electronic toll service, a move that will allow highway users to pay through e-wallet accounts and pass through the toll plazas without having to stop. Implementation of electronic toll collection on highways can save money, time and fuel.

This issue also brings to its readers two interesting topics discussed during the Smart Mobility Expo held in September 2016 in Mumbai: Technology for improved public bus transport and Sustainable & interactive highways. When it comes to public bus systems, efficiency is achieved at three levels: Technology to improve the asset management, resource management, and operation management. In India, all the smart cities in the making have well designed programme for smart bus transport in terms of availability, reliability, passenger comforts, travel information and safety. Realtime monitoring and smart bus stops are talking of highways of the future, it must be safe, sustainable, environment-friendly and hasslefree increasing the efficiency of transportation system.

The new budget gives a very big boost to infrastructure. The `3.96Cr allocation is expected to bring in visible changes. A notable aspect is the attempt to synergise the investment in railways, roads, waterways and civil aviation.