TrafficInfraTech Magazine Linking People Places & Progress
Toll Operations
Deployment of interoperable and unified electronic systems i.e., central clearing house (CCH) for toll payment, re-charge, overload penalties, discounts, redemptions etc. shall eliminate the delays at toll plazas.
Highway Operations
Travel advisory applications intimating the peak/off-peak conditions, special events, road closures can be deployed through internet FM radio and SMS to both car and commercial truck/bus operators to enable them plan their movement.
Use of Mobile phone / Smart phone apps such as single key alert can be deployed to access emergency services. However such applications are more efficient and effective if they are supported by a single national emergency response number and with deployment of related back-end infrastructure to provide emergency response.
Some of the simple and most popular deployments on Indian highways include GPS based vehicle tracking systems for Patrol and Ambulance vehicles. Web-based or Smartphone based applications for logging of complaints and provide feedback could be good value drivers for highway user experience.
Applications can be deployed to detect, track Overload detection, penalizing, off-loading. Tracking and enforcement is necessary to prevent repetitive violations
State governments are in the process of implementing integrated border check-posts with electronic clearance. Data sharing between these systems and in the neighborhood toll plazas would be useful in eliminating the delays.
Deployment of a Comprehensive Asset Management System will enable development of strategy, selection of alternatives and timing of repair and maintenance activities. Project/section specific asset performance models, developed after consideration of traffic, age and initial conditions, have been found to predict the performance of pavements more accurately.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition System for e.g. the High Security Registration Plate (HSPR) system initiated by some states shall be rolled out across nation. Interfacing VAHAN and SARATHI vehicle and driver license databases with CCH system will enable quick resolution of violations and settlement process.
National and Regional Traffic/Emergency Operations Centre can be set-up with central database and video walls to monitor the highway projects both during construction and operation. These centers can also act as highway management as well as information centers disseminating the information (traffic conditions, location of toll plaza, toll rates, emergency support, spl. Events etc.,) to all stakeholders i.e., users, emergency service providers, media, highway operators, etc.
Way Forward / Implementation Framework
Core to all the above discussion is to have integrated framework enabling phased development and deployment of modules based on the set priority driven by needs (Exhibit 3). The framework identifies all the key applications for a highway project life-cycle with their interfacing with relevant communication technologies. CALS ? Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support deployed by Japanese for public work projects is one such example.
To start with it is required to develop a National Highway IT Mission followed by formulation of information system and technology plan for Indian Highways broadly mapping the functional areas of automation and technologies/software applications.
Key to success of such data intensive program is development of specifications for data collection, storage and exchange including data formats and exchange protocols at different stages of asset life cycle. Based on the requirements, prioritize development and implementation of the modules with an alignment to the Architecture.
It is essential to make these requirements and specifications part of the respective agreements with various stakeholders for ensuring uniform deployment across projects and seamless integration across projects. With a vast IT potential being available in the Country today, time is ripe to capitalize on the already available large technology infrastructure such as smartphones/Tablets, 3G/4G communication networks, Cloud Computing to shift the gear and put the highway development on fast track process. Commissioning of Indian Highway Management Company Limited (IHMCL) set-up jointly by the Ministry (MoRTH)/HAI, Private Concessionaires and Financial Institution could be the right forum to champion the cause.
This initiative would throw-up a huge opportunity to the entrepreneurs in the field of IT to come up with innovative implementation models such as those with without upfront financial exposure to the Highway Firms and Authority and pay for use philosophy. This would bring the best companies to invest technology based measurement devices/data collection devices, develop and provide application software services, managed services. This also provides ample opportunity for employment in the areas of operation and maintenance of the systems. Making available various data on the performance of different components of highway assets to research institutes can improve the output of their research which can further enhance the design life of the assets resulting in optimal utilization of funds.
IT deployment in an integrated framework uniformly and consistently across the industry can surely give its stakeholders a better return on investment and its deserving users a world class experience.
(Venkata Subba Rao Associate Vice-President at GMR Highway. The views expressed above are purely personal and not of the Company)