I-way for Delhi-Mumbai Highway
In an effort to realise the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India, an Electronic Toll Collection System for the Delhi-Mumbai Highway via Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra has been launched.
The Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system for DelhiMumbai Highway via Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra was launched by Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari. At the launch, Gadkari said, “The Electronic Toll Collection System is a step towards the realisation of the Prime Minister’s vision of `Digital India’.” The system would evolve into newer technologies and facilities like touch-card, debit card etc. in the near future, he added.
The FASTag is a passive RFID tag affixed at the centre of the windscreen. All you have to do is Recharge your Tag Account and drive through FASTag Lanes at the toll plazas, and appropriate toll would automatically be deducted from your balance. SMS alerts will be sent on the registered mobile number giving information on toll fee deducted and low balance.
Currently FASTag services are available at 24 toll plazas on Delhi-Mumbai section, and simultaneously, work is in progress to implement FASTag on all National Highways. Also, FASTag shall be extended for fuel payments and entry fee payments at State Border check posts in near future.
ETC has already been installed at 55 Toll Plazas and their integration with Central Clearing House ( CCH) operators has almost been completed. A pilot project for interoperable ETC system of 10 toll plazas between Mumbai ( Charoti) and Ahmedabad has already been tested and seamless ETC on this section is in operation successfully.
In order to remove the bottlenecks and ensure seamless movement of traffic and collection of toll as per the notified rates, the Government had constituted a committee on Electronic Toll Collection technology for use on National Highways under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani. This Committee`s mandate was to examine all technologies available for ETC and recommend the most suitable technology for local conditions.
A web-based portal has been developed through which National Highway users may easily access information related to toll fee and other details viz. applicable toll charges and concessions available for local vehicles near any toll plaza in the country, date of toll fee notification, commercial operation date, effective & due date of toll rate revision, name and contact details of key personnel on toll plaza, etc. in addition to facilities available near Toll Plaza(s).
The portal is GIS-based, wherein Toll Plazas may be easily searched on a map. A State-wise list of all toll plazas along with their names, locations, and the number of the National Highway and section/stretch will be displayed in this section. User can also type “name” of a toll plaza to get information of the toll plaza entered on the screen. User can click on “Toll Plaza name” to get further details of that toll plaza. A facility is also available to ascertain the Toll Plaza Location as well as the amount of fee that a user shall have to pay while travelling through a selected stretch of National Highway.