Page 38 - TrafficInfraTech Dec-Jan 2019

TOLLING

We started issuing more number plazas are doing in excess of 30% of
of FASTags post December 2017. But revenues in FASTag, and on an average,
if you look at the transactions, it has we are doing about 25%.
not grown that much, purely because There are multiple challenges as far as
bulk of the vehicles sold are cars, and the technology adoption is concerned. We
they will only get activated once we are seeing the adoption more in the case
have city and at state toll plazas under of commercial vehicles and less on cars and
FASTag. In a city like Mumbai, we have that is one of the concerns. We tried to do
five Mumbai entry points and Worli- some work with the 188 toll lanes that we
Sealink and FASTag is not accepted have enabled FASTag as to why this has
there. So, unless and until we have been happening. One key learning is that
an integration of all these players we don’t have regular long-distance car Now we are trying to do
in the ecosystem, the transaction drivers in this country who pass multiple away with boom barriers
graph can grow only organically. toll plazas where they see a benefit in and let vehicles run free.
We envision that FASTag would be FASTag. The FASTag numbers have not
used for multiple things in future, not only picked up even though the RTO has made But this will work only
for toll payments but also for everything it compulsory. Most Car registrations on the back of good law
else which can be linked to a vehicle; happen in cities and many do not pass enforcement.
it FASTag would be used for multiple through a single toll plaza because the
things in future, for parking payments or daily work does not require them to go Muraleemohan M
enforcement payments. If you must really beyond the city and pass a toll plaza.
issue a challan to a vehicle rather than So, there is a need to try and basis because the technology does not
asking for a debit card or a credit card, convert these local cars to FASTag. Every
FASTag can make the payment. Even fuel concessionaire has got a requirement allow interoperability. This is one reason
payments are something which can be to take care of the local cars through why most trucks owners are not willing
looked into the future. some sort of electronic medium. to paste the tag on the windscreen. We
The focus for the future is to activate Different concessionaires are doing it are still seeing many trucks having tags
coming out from their pocket at the
the state and city toll plazas. We want differently using their smart cards and plaza which is against the principles of
to go live with Mumbai and Hyderabad some other techniques. We have tried the programme. But this is one challenge
cities; we will also be exploring options to take it to the FASTag platform after they face. Some issuer banks have
like Bangalore because there, once the discussing with the banks and NPCI and of-late started giving group accounts,
customer starts using it, we will get into that has started showing some results. which is a welcome improvement.
the second phase. As part of the plan for NHAI also has recently issued a circular
integration, we are already co-ordinating making it mandatory that all local and State Transport buses pose the
with GSTN, with Border security posts monthly passes be issued only through next major challenge. At least, in
and with VAHAN database to integrate FASTag. six of our toll plazas, the state-run
all of it with our server. So, the whole One datapoint is a project near transport companies have come back
concept is that as a programme, this Panipat where, in September 2017, we and surrendered the FASTag. None of
will be open to the future alternative had 3% FASTag volumes which moved the state transport departments have
technology as and when it comes. up to 17% by September 2018. This got the bandwidth to manage 5000 to
Muraleemohan M: Electronic Toll jump over a one-year period was mostly 6000 bank accounts on a monthly basis
Collection has been the single largest due to the local cars getting converted and keep recharging it. They are saying
digital intervention from the government from Smart Cards to FASTags. But in if the concessionaire were to control it
side which has helped us avoid a lot of trunk routes and long highways, we we only need to generate one demand
headache at many of the toll plazas. This don’t see much of car adoption. draft and you handle the remaining. So,
was piloted first in one of our toll plazas The current system of FASTag these are some of the things we have
way back in 2013, in Vadodara to Baruch. requires every truck to have a unique been discussing with NPCI and NHAI. If
From 2013 to the December of 2016, we bank account and unique FASTag. A lot of some structural changes are made, the
did two percent of our revenues through transporters in the country having 1000 adoption will be much higher.
FASTag and from December 2016, mainly -2000 trucks, don’t have the bandwidth When it comes to settlement
because of demonetisation, it has been or the clerical setup to manage 2000 from the concessionaire side, there
going up every month. Most of our toll accounts on a monthly basis or on a trip are problems. There are many

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