First step was RFID
FasTags for automatic collection of toll tax on highways , with toll plazas
normally located 60 km apart . You pay ( a fix amount for a specific stretch ) for
the entry at each toll plaza
Now comes the second step
:
Ø GPS Based Toll Collection ..
……………………….19 April 2023
Extract :
The news of GPS based
toll collection has been doing rounds ever since the Union Transport Minister
Nitin Gadkari announced about it a long time ago.
The government plans to
remove all the toll plazas or toll booths and enable GPS based toll collection.
FASTag has already been made mandatory for four-wheelers that
leads to the automatic deduction of toll tax through Radio
Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. It happens
when one approaches the toll gate where the vehicle drivers need not stop for a
few seconds so that the toll tax amount gets deducted automatically. All you
need to do is to buy a FASTag from Paytm and link it to your Paytm wallet.
Now, the plan is to
enable GPS monitoring of
the vehicle movement for the purpose of toll collection.
How
will GPS-Based Toll Collection Work?
To enable GPS based toll
collection, it will be necessary for all vehicles to have
a GPS (Global Positioning System).
As the government plans,
it will be through the equipment of a micro-controller with third-generation
(3G) and GPS connectivity.
The government can acquire the GPS coordinates of the moving
vehicles and constantly
track them. Hence, they will know the route of
the traveling vehicles and what toll roads they
take. They can check how many toll gates they pass through and estimate
the total toll tax.
At present, one toll
gate exists at the end of one stretch of a toll road, or one project. One
project/stretch refers to that section of the toll road which is under a
particular contractor for construction and maintenance. The distance between two toll gates is usually 60kms (may differ by a few kilometers). The National Highway Authority
of India (NHAI) has fixed
toll rates for different types of vehicles for 60 km. If the road stretch is less than 60 km, then toll tax is
collected accordingly.
How
will it be Different from FASTag?
FASTag undoubtedly is a
fast-forward step in digital India. It uses Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) technology for an automatic deduction of toll tax. All you need to do is
get this reloadable tag and affix it on the windshield of your vehicle. In
addition to this, you need to link your FASTag with your bank account/prepaid
wallet for automatic debit of the toll amount. The NHAI, in integration with
the banks and online payment platforms, provides FASTags to its users through
both, online and offline modes. All toll booths have FASTag
scanners that can detect them and deduct the toll tax amount. So, when you travel through a toll road and approach a toll
booth, you need not stop for a long duration.
However, GPS based toll
collection will differ from FASTag because it will track you throughout.
It will be vigilant of vehicle movement and collect the toll tax through GPS
imaging. Automatic deduction in FASTags happens only when you approach
the toll plaza. It is speculated that the NHAI may use GPS-enabled FASTags for
GPS-based toll-tax collection.
|
FASTag |
GPS Based Toll Collection |
|
Use of RFID Technology |
Use of GPS system in vehicles |
|
Automatic Deduction through FASTag scanner at toll booths |
Deduction through tracking of GPS coordinates |
|
Detected only when the vehicles approach a toll booth |
Entire travel route to be tracked |
|
Toll booths need to be stationed |
This will lead to the removal of all physical
toll booths and toll plazas |
|
Mandatory and in practice since February 2021 |
To be implemented around 2022 as planned by the government |
Wrapping
it up:
GPS based toll collection will be a milestone in the use of
technology, digitalization, and smooth traveling.
It will save time for
the drivers and travellers as neither they will have to wait in long queues nor
will they have to stop at every toll booth.
They can make payments at once through online platforms. However, privacy remains a concern if the government tracks
the entire movement of vehicles.
As the GPS based toll collection is still in the development stage, we are yet to see its pros and cons. For now, FASTag is
mandatory and facilitates electronic toll payment in the best possible way.
This also helps in smooth, non-stop driving to save time without having to stop
at pesky toll plazas.
==================================================
From where to
get a GPS-based Micro-controller to
replace RFID FasTag ?
https://morth.nic.in/list-approved-vehicle-location-tracking-device-manufacturers
Please visit the following websites for
more information
- ARAI URL – https://www.araiindia.com/pages/downloads
- ICAT URL - https://www.icat.in/information/certification
Background :
According to the response, Toll collection was :
Ø Rs 5974.72 crore ……………………… in 2020-21,
Ø Rs 11,303.24 crore …………………………in 2021-22,
Ø Rs 18,843.36 crore ………………………….in 2022-23
Ø Rs 17415.16 crore ……………………………in 2023-24 till November
23, 2023.
(
source > NHAI collected over Rs 53,000
cr since 2020-21 as toll fee via FASTag: Gadkari )
My Take :
Dear Shri Nitin Gadkariji
:
In 23-24 , RFID based toll collection might reach Rs 25,000 crore . On an average , it shows an annual growth rate of 62 % over past 4 years , but
for the current year , it has slowed down to 32 %
To this , add the estimate
that this toll tax gets collected from , no more than 5 % of our 32.6 crore vehicles , which use
our Highways . Remaining 95 % of vehicles , either ply on city streets or on
highways not subject to any toll
Now imagine following
scenario :
Ø All
32.6 crore vehicles are made to pay tax ( what I have called, TRANS-TAX based
on pollution generated by each type of vehicle )
Ø TRANS-TAX
is collected ( from each vehicle ) , no matter WHERE it is plying
Ø It
is collected 24x365 days ( every hour )
Ø It
is collected AUTOMATICALLY ( by deduction from a pre-paid / vehicle-linked
account )
Ø There
is no HUMAN INTERVENTION in the collection process
Under
such a scenario , following can be expected :
Ø There
will be dramatic shift to less polluting vehicles ( EVs / Hibrids / Hydrogen
based ) – without need for incentivizing manufacturers or subsidizing vehicle
owners
Ø More
people will start travelling by PUBLIC transport ( which cause less pollution )
Ø More
people will travel less ( more Work from Home )
Ø There
will be less traffic congestion ( less of PEAK traffic situations )
Ø Annual
tax collection could well rise by 100 times to Rs 25 Lakhxcrore
in 2025-26
I urge you to consider
implementation of suggestion made by me in my following email :
Transport : an Integrated Logistic Plan
? ……………… 20 Nov 2018 ]
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.HemenParekh.ai / 16
Jan 2024
PS :
My belief in Government implementing my
above-mentioned suggestion, is reinforced by following opinions :
ChatGPT
:
Geo-fencing in the context of collecting highway tolls involves
the use of GPS-based systems to track the movement of vehicles within specified
geographic boundaries. This technology can be employed as an alternative to
traditional RFID-based toll collection at toll plazas. In this system, micro-controllers are installed in
vehicles, and their movements are tracked using GPS to determine the distance travelled
on certain highways.
If all roads, highways, and lanes in India were to be
geo-fenced, the use of technologies like What3Words.com
could potentially offer convenience and facilitate faster deployment.
What3Words.com
is a geocoding system that assigns a unique three-word
address to every 3x3 meter square on the
Earth's surface. This can be particularly useful in areas with informal
addressing or where traditional address systems are lacking.
Here's how What3Words.com could be beneficial:
1.
Precise Location
Identification:
What3Words provides a simple and precise way to identify locations. This can be crucial in
geo-fencing scenarios, ensuring accurate tracking and toll calculation.
2.
Easy Communication of
Locations:
The three-word addresses assigned by What3Words are easy to
communicate and remember. This can simplify the communication of location
information, making it user-friendly for both authorities and individuals.
3.
Rapid Deployment:
Since What3Words.com has already assigned unique three-word
addresses globally, implementing
geo-fencing with this technology may expedite the deployment
process, as there's no need to create a
new addressing system.
However, it's important to note that the success of such a
system depends on various factors, including the acceptance and integration of
technologies, regulatory considerations, privacy concerns, and public
awareness. Additionally, the cost of implementing and maintaining such a
widespread system should be carefully evaluated.
BARD :
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.
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