NHAI Introduces Live Monitoring for Toll Plazas Across India

Key Highlights:

• NHAI will live monitor 100 toll plazas using GIS-based software.
• The software tracks real-time traffic and provides updates on queue length and waiting time.
• It suggests lane distribution to reduce congestion.
• The government plans to introduce satellite-based toll collection, potentially replacing toll plazas.
• A hybrid GNSS and RFID toll system will be initially implemented within the FASTag system.

The National Highways Authority of India has designated approximately 100 toll plazas along national highways for live monitoring using GIS-based technologies. This is intended to provide free flow of traffic and a hassle-free toll experience.

Indian Highways Management Co Ltd, an NHAI-promoted company, created web-based software for real-time monitoring of toll plaza wait times.

The software will display the name and location of the toll plaza, as well as information on the current line length in meters, total waiting time, and vehicle speed at the toll plaza, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

It will also issue congestion alerts and lane distribution recommendations if the wait of vehicles at a toll plaza exceeds the prescribed limit.

These toll plazas were chosen based on congestion comments obtained via the National Highway 1033 helpline number. The web-based monitoring will be gradually expanded to include more toll plazas.

The ministry stated that toll plazas have been linked to the individual NHAI field offices around the country using web-based software, allowing NHAI authorities to gather insights into traffic queues and congestion on an hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

"In addition, the software will provide updates related to current weather conditions and information about local festivals, enabling NHAI officials to take precaution measures to manage the traffic load and decongest the toll plazas," stated a ministry spokesperson.

Meanwhile, the government intends to implement a satellite-based toll collecting system on national highways, using GNSS or GPS, to cut traffic and toll collection expenses. The pilot for satellite-based toll collection on the Delhi-Mumbai corridor has already been completed.

The new toll collection system might eventually replace toll plazas, with tolls levied based on distance traveled at highway exits. The government has previously sought expressions of interest (EOI) for the adoption of GNSS-based electronic toll collection.

"NHAI plans to implement the GNSS-based Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system within the existing FASTag ecosystem, initially using a hybrid model where both RFID-based ETC and GNSS-based ETC will operate simultaneously," said the ministry's announcement.

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CMV360 Says

These advancements in toll management have the potential to enhance the overall driving experience on India's highways. Implementing real-time monitoring and satellite-based toll collection could minimize delays and improve traffic flow, making road travel more efficient and less stressful for commuters.