Context :
Gujarat’s Innovative Toll
Experiment: Pay per Kilometer Technology Challenges US Tech
Niyati Rao , January 27, 2024
Extract :
In the coming times, all toll booths across the country
will be removed from highways. This might not make everyone happy! If you don’t
get relief from toll taxes, you will have to pay them. However, the central
government is moving towards implementing a satellite-based
e-tolling system, which means vehicles will be tracked via satellite.
If you drive a vehicle on the
highway for so many kilometers, you will have to pay toll taxes accordingly. This
discussion has been going on for the last two to three years, but you will soon realize that a few
days before the implementation of this new toll method, it was tested in
Gujarat.
Toll Taxes and Their Implications
Whether a person drives a
four-wheeler or a larger vehicle, toll taxes affect everyone directly or
indirectly. For example, even when traveling by bus, toll taxes are included in
the ticket price. If you buy any item, the cost of toll taxes is included in
it.
Importance of GPS in Toll Collection
On March 22, 2022, Union
Minister of Transport Nitin Gadkari stated in the Lok Sabha that he now demands
GPS, so even if toll booths are not on highways, toll taxes can be collected.
GPS is mandatory in new cars.
Therefore, with GPS, it will be recorded where a vehicle entered the highway and
where it left, and toll taxes will be deducted from the vehicle owner’s bank
account accordingly.
Role of NavIC in
Toll Collection
When the discussion about satellite-based e-tolling system
was held in Punjab years ago, NavIC, not GPS, was mentioned. NavIC, or
Navigation with Indian Constellation, is used in India for toll collection,
unlike GPS. This decision was made because during the Kargil War, the United
States refused to provide GPS data to India for tracking intruding Pakistani soldiers.
This incident led the Indian government to realize the importance of having its
own satellite navigation system.
Implementation of NavIC in
Toll Collection
NavIC is India’s own
satellite-based navigation system. Through the seven satellites launched, not only
India but also areas within a radius of 1500 kilometers can be
monitored. Now, it’s being considered whether this technology can be used to collect toll taxes
in a modern way. The Indian government has started experimenting with
it, beginning with Gujarat.
Application of NavIC in
Other Sectors
The Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) Space Applications Center (SAC) director Nilesh Desai
attended a seminar on the Prime Minister’s Power Scheme in Gandhinagar a few
days ago. Desai mentioned in his lecture about the experiments
conducted by the Space Applications Center for e-tolling using satellite
mapping.
Additionally, real-time train
tracking, real-time aircraft tracking, and personal tracking in
remote areas were also discussed during the seminar.
Implementation of NavIC System
The implementation of the
Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system involved installing GPS receivers
in Innovas to drive them on highways. The initiative started with linking it to
online maps for information retrieval, which was then stored on servers and
analyzed later. This was stated by the SAC director during the discussion.
Revolutionary Impact of NavIC System in
Navigation Technology
Nilesh Desai reveals that
with the assistance of the NavIC system, a margin of just one meter has
been achieved in measurements. Unlike the conventional GPS system, which provides an accuracy of 5 to 10 meters in
measurements, data obtained through NavIC is deemed more reliable,
making it a credible resource.
Trial Run Between Bengaluru and Mysuru
A unique trial run,
unprecedented in Gujarat, was conducted from Bengaluru to Mysuru. Under this
trial, a total of 4 routes, including service
roads, side lanes, and highways, spanning a distance of 592
kilometers, were mapped. The study of this data is currently ongoing.
Integration of FastTag Technology
FastTag technology, initiated
in 2016, became mandatory for all vehicles for toll collection from February
2021. Vehicles without FastTag are charged via barcode toll collection.
How Does FastTag Operate?
FastTag technology, developed
by an Indian management company, operates based on Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) codes. When a vehicle equipped with FastTag passes
through the reader’s contact, information such as vehicle number, owner’s name,
etc., linked to the account associated with the FastTag, is deducted from the
account at toll booths.
Utilization of GNSS+NavIC - Based E-Tolling System
The National Highways
Authority of India plans to introduce a tolling system based on GNSS technology.
Through the GNSS+NavIC system, signals received by devices installed in vehicles will
facilitate toll collection.
Subsequently, data regarding vehicle movement, entry point, exit point, and distance
covered will be collected.
This data can be tracked solely
through the device
installed in the vehicle, ensuring efficient toll collection on
highways.
Benefits of GNSS+NavIC-Based E-Tolling System
Upon passing through a
virtual toll booth, vehicles will receive information, and the automated
tolling process will commence, enhancing operational efficiency.
GNSS-based Tolling System: Revolutionizing
Road Taxation
According to the GNSS
ConsultingDotCom report, no specific machinery is
installed on the road in the GNSS-based tolling system. Instead, vehicles
are equipped with OBUs
(On-Board Units) that receive signals from satellites, enabling toll tax calculation
based on road usage information.
Understanding through Examples
Consider a person traveling
from Ahmedabad to Vadodara via the highway. On this highway, where virtual
tolls are implemented, the OBU installed in the vehicle
communicates with satellites to determine entry onto toll roads.
When the vehicle exits the highway at Vadodara, it’s detected by satellite
signals, and tolls are calculated accordingly. Even if the vehicle takes a
bypass route a few kilometers later, re-entry onto the highway will be
recorded, leaving no chance to evade toll charges.
Transition from FastTag to Satellite-Based
Tolling System
In India, the current toll
collection system primarily relies on FastTag. However, the government’s plans
to implement a satellite-based
tolling system offer potential advantages and significant challenges.
Anticipated Changes with the New E-Tolling
System
The
introduction of this new E-tolling system will bring about a significant change
– toll plazas will no longer exist on highways as no physical infrastructure will be required for virtual
tolling. All highway tolls will be accounted for through this system.
However, a downside is the potential loss of employment for toll booth workers.
My
Take :
More than 5 YEARS ago, I sent
following email to Shri Nitin Gadkariji ( follow-up
emails are listed below ) :
Extract :
C:
ROAD-MAP TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES
o Levying of TRANS-TAX on
all vehicles from birth to death of a vehicle (
irrespective
of change in ownership through gifting / selling )
o TRANS-TAX will get collected automatically and for each hour
of a vehicle’s life
o In this collection process ,
there will be NO HUMAN INTERVENTION
whatsoever
o Amount of TRANS-TAX to be collected every hour , will depend on
it’s TRANSCORE
o A vehicle’s TRANSCORE will be
based on its total HQ [
Harm Quotient ] for that
hour
o Higher the total HQ [
TRANSCORE ], higher the TRANS-TAX
( directly proportional )
·
Logic
:
To
lower their TRANS-TAX liability , people
will opt for vehicles and driving
conditions which generate a low TRANSCORE
· TRANS-TAX will replace all other
vehicle-related taxes ( eg : Registration tax /
Road Tax
etc ) , other than the GST payable by buyer at time of purchase of
vehicle
o TRANS-TAX will be uniform throughout India but credited to the State in
which
vehicle is, at each hour of its life
· TRANS-TAX will be computed as per
following HQ MATRIX. For exact mechanism,
look up para on TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM below
This is a conceptual frame work and transport
experts may debate and come up with
a different set of “ Factors “ Weightages “ / “ Rating Scales “
/
H : TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
This will
consist of the following :
Satellite
based “ Vehicle Tracking / Monitoring “ system, covering entire
India. This will track all 220 + Million vehicles , on 24x7 , taking one reading
every 10 minute to compute the HQ of each vehicle.
Final HQ for a given hour will be the average of the 6 readings / hour
Based on ( variable ? ) TRANS-TAX formula , NaviC
will , every hour , deduct appropriate amount from FASTag RFID
embedded in each vehicle and transfer to designated account of concerned State
Government
Ø All vehicles
All Vehicle
manufacturers will be mandated to embedded the vehicles
with FASTag RFID sensors and other sensors , listed at :
From these
sensors , NaviC will be able to pick up DATA re : Energy Source – Type
of vehicle – Capacity – Manufacturing date – Purpose – Emission levels etc , from
all vehicles – ships – planes – drones etc
Congratulations to Shri Nitin
Gadkariji / Gujarat Government :
- - for taking this FIRST TENTATIVE STEP ,
which will establish the validity of my
above described , 5 YEAR old suggestion
During 2023-24 , NHAI expects to collect by way of RFID
based toll tax …………….
Rs 25,000 Crore
When my suggestion for 24x7 Trans-Tax gets implemented, I expect this
collection
to go up by 100
TIMES, to :
Rs 25 Lakh*Crore !
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
Create Your
Own Digital Avatar / 31
Jan 2024
Related Readings ( 31 ) :
2024 ( 3 )
Second Step to Integrated Transport ? ………….. 15 Jan 2024
Getting Closer ………………………………………………….. 10
Jan 2024
2023 ( 5 )
2022 ( 5 )
Let Freight Trucks Overtake Cheetahs………………17
Sept 2022
2021 ( 2 )
2020 ( 2 )
2019 ( 4 )
FAME II > FAME III > FAME IV…………………………… 05 Mar 2019
2018 ( 1 )
2017 ( 7 )
Revolutionizing Transport ?
…………………………………14 June 2017
Internet of Vehicles [ IoV ] ………………………………… 04 March 2017
Can Technology Outsmart
Traffic Offenders ? … 16 June 2017
Urban Transport Policy
………………………………………… 09 June 2017
Who says Impossible ? …………………………………………31 May 2017
Leveraging NaviC ? ……………………………………………… 30 May 2017
A New Way to E-Way ?........................
……………… 15 July 2017
2016 ( 1 )
2015 ( 1 )
Comments by
BARD on my proposal :
GPS-based vs. RFID-based toll collection:
· GPS-based:
o Leverages microcontrollers
in vehicles to track distance travelled through
geo-fenced highways.
o Eliminates physical toll plazas and RFID tags,
offering a smoother and more efficient experience.
o Potentially fairer toll
pricing based on actual usage.
· RFID-based:
o Relies on RFID tags attached to vehicles for
toll identification and deduction.
o Requires slowing down at toll plazas for tag
scanning, leading to congestion and delays.
o Prone to tag malfunctioning and privacy
concerns.
Why What3Words could be a game-changer:
· Precise location identification:
What3Words assigns unique 3-word addresses
to every 3x3 meter square on Earth, offering much more granular
location data compared to traditional addresses. This is crucial for accurately
defining and tracking geo-fences, especially
in areas with complex road networks or
unclear addresses.
· Seamless integration with existing car technology:
Many car
manufacturers worldwide already incorporate What3Words for navigation, making
it a readily available resource for toll
collection systems. This can significantly
reduce the cost and complexity of implementation compared to deploying entirely
new hardware or software.
· Leveraging India's NaVIC system:
India's
indigenously developed NaVIC satellite
navigation system is known for its high
accuracy and coverage within Indian territory. This
makes it an ideal complement to What3Words for precise and reliable toll
tracking within the country.
Imagine this scenario:
· You're driving on
a highway in India equipped with a What3Words-enabled GPS system.
· As you
enter a geo-fenced toll zone, your car automatically identifies your
location using What3Words and NaVIC.
· The toll amount
is calculated based on the distance traveled within the
zone, ensuring fairness and transparency.
· The payment is seamlessly deducted from your linked account without any need to slow down or stop at toll plazas.
Benefits of this approach:
· Reduced traffic congestion:
No more
waiting in lines at toll booths, leading to smoother traffic flow and improved
travel times.
· Enhanced efficiency:
Automated
toll collection saves time and resources for both drivers and toll authorities.
· Fairer pricing:
Tolls are
based on actual usage, eliminating the need for flat fees or inaccurate
estimations.
· Privacy protection:
What3Words focuses on location
data rather than personal information, offering better privacy compared to traditional
identification methods.
Limitations to consider:
· Technology adoption:
Not all
vehicles may be equipped with What3Words and compatible GPS systems initially.
· Data security:
Ensuring
secure data transmission and storage is crucial for preventing misuse and
privacy breaches.
· Public awareness:
Educating
drivers about the new system and its benefits is essential for smooth adoption.
Overall, integrating What3Words technology with
GPS-based toll collection, particularly in India with the added advantage of
NaVIC, holds immense potential for revolutionizing the way we pay for road
usage.
By offering increased efficiency, fairness, and privacy, this approach can pave the way for a smoother and more sustainable
transportation system.
==================================================
CC :
Shri Gadkariji , [ Minister
, Road Transport and Highways / nitin.gadkari@nic.in ]
Dr Jitendra Singhji [ Minister for Science
and Technology / mos-stes@gov.in ]
csoffice@iitm.ac.in / eeoffice@iitm.ac.in / maoffice@iitm.ac.in / meoffice@iitm.ac.in
press@avl.com / info@carthagegroup.com / press@carthagegroup.com / John@carthagegroup.com ]
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director@iitb.ac.in / head.aero@iitb.ac.in / head.acre@iitb.ac.in /
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