Page 40 - TrafficInfraTech Dec-Jan 2019

TOLLING

because when it goes to the mapper it the things through FASTag and ETC.
gives you the correct class as mapped Supplementary agreement for Hybrid ETC
with National Payments Corporation Muraleemohan M: Hybrid ETC has
of India but then it creates a problem two components. The first concept of
on the ground level for the, AVC. So, converting all the lanes to ETC lanes was
this is unnecessarily increasing the the first part which many concessionaires
burden of acquirer banks for doing the have done. FASTag transactions are now
audit. Again, some streamlining needs allowed on any lane in the toll plaza. It
to be done in a tag which is having a does not really serve the purpose because
class inside that needs to match and once we have a cash vehicle also in front,
physical distribution needs to be done it really affects the transaction speeds.
very properly. AVC accuracy is very “We are
much important to avoid unnecessarily concessionaires and The second part of the hybrid
overheads in ETC transaction processes. system integrators ETC supplementary agreement calls
AR Vishwanathan: We are typically for a comprehensive overhaul of all
in a very unfortunate scenario in India, need to educate the equipment at a toll plaza -- that is only
the toll equipment--it does not look at
a lot of people really do not know authorities about the the HTMS component of it.
how to use the mobile. So, today a latest technologies
mobile device for many people is for that are coming Now the intent of NHAI is highly laudable
Facebook, for internet and things like in the fray. If they because they want to take the toll plazas to
that but nobody really wants to use next generation and give high performance
it for tagging or as a mobile wallet. begin to accept that, indicators and key performance parameters
So, some of the issues we are it will help us to assigned to every aspect of the toll plaza.
The best thing is NHAI wants to pay for it
encountering are enforceability, really get where we also, they don’t want additional financial
educating people and letting people want.” liability to the concessionaires. In newer
know how we can use it. Now, it is projects, it has become a standard as part
a sense of fear that if I have money in AR Vishwanathan of the concession agreement but in older
my wallet somebody else will steal it. aspect of some of these collections. It projects it comes through a change of scope
We have to educate people that some is a combination of people who need mechanism. The first challenge happens
of these tags that you hold as ETC tags to be involved in this. It is not just there because in most of these equipment,
or FASTags are very secure in their about an IoT company like ours but it the specifications are on the higher side
approach. We are a system integrator, is more about educating people. Our requiring some struggle with vendors as
but when we talk to concessionaires and organisation is happy to conduct some to who will supply those equipment in
when we talk about ETC, we tell them of the sessions to educate NHAI or the market and where is the platform
‘here is a mechanism for you to do it’. MoRTH to know what the next steps to integrate all of them to the TMS for a
And it would not restrict itself to mobiles, are and what is globally happening. smooth functioning. The price discovery has
there are other IoT sensor-based devices For example, over speeding. The chip its challenges, there is a central committee
which help one protect the money. It is on the ANPR essentially integrates itself with under RO Jaipur which has finalized the price
more a question of how you can educate the VAHAN database and lane cutting. So, a for most of the items but some of the items
and move people to get there.
lot of the penalties along with enforcement are plaza specific like your TMS vendor, or
of guidelines that road authorities enforce your AVC system which is linked to the TMS.
What are the corrections needed for are something that can very easily and It is doubtful if a platform is available for
having hassle-free tolling? nicely be integrated with VAHAN database. real-time monitoring of all equipment. The
All those who are involved in that I doubt that we are taking even a single step list of equipment that are to be changed
business right from MoRTH, NHAI and towards doing that. starts from a boom barrier to an overhead
end-users to concessionaires and the Also, a lot of people suspect light. Now these are not equipment which
agents have a very typical problem and VAHAN’s authenticity; it could be that throw out a digital signal which can be
each problem is very unique to them one vehicle is tagged to somebody else picked up remotely to see whether the
only because they believe that it is their vehicle. But that can be authenticated equipment are functioning or not. The
problem and somebody needs to solve. the moment we are able to validate that penalty is also steep. We have certainly
It is more about enforcing the regulatory the database is accurate, then a lot of gone ahead and signed the supplementary

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