TrafficInfraTech Magazine Linking People Places & Progress
The debate expanded to evaluate the efficacy of existing Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) systems, which have achieved an impressive 95% penetration rate. There was a prevailing scepticism about replacing this established technology with newer Global Positioning System (GPS)-based systems, considering the substantial investment and successful implementation of ETC, acknowledged and adopted across various nations. A recent circular on ATMS said that the gantry used for VSDS could also be tagged with an RFID reader and used for toll collection without increasing exchequer cost.
Sandeep Pawar stated that since only 5% FasTag penetration remained, why not focus on this instead of going in for a completely new technology and new infrastructure. The system was working and the current collections amounted to 170 crores per day. System integrators may not be very clear about the objective of this particular exercise.
Acknowledging the maturity of ETC, the panel leaned towards advocating for the coexistence of new technologies alongside existing systems. Suggestions surfaced to integrate GPS-based systems in tandem with ETC for augmented functionalities. However, concerns regarding increased costs and infrastructural adaptations lingered.
The path forward involves collaborative efforts among industry stakeholders, policymakers, and technology integrators to pave the way for a more efficient and robust transportation infrastructure.
Sainath Gurav pointed out that eight European countries had already implemented GPS based system; four were in the process of implementation and Indonesia and South Africa were also in the fray. These countries were already moving on to GNSS from RFID, DSRC and other technologies. The discussion extended to exploring the advantages of GPS technology over its predecessors, focusing on its potential for broader applications beyond toll collection. This included monitoring road safety and driver behaviour. Yet, concerns arose about the fuel loss incurred by older technologies due to vehicle slowdowns at toll plazas.
Participants also engaged in deliberations concerning policies related to road safety, driver behavior, and toll collection. Proposals were made for leveraging AI-based cameras to enhance monitoring and coordinate activities in control rooms. According to IHMCL, NHAI had approved a policy recently that covered all aspects like road safety, driver behaviour, over-speeding, lane discipline, reverse direction movement, among 30 to 40 other incidents.