After NH tolls, ECR and OMR to go FASTag way
Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com
Chennai:28.11.2019
Following National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is all set to enforce the electronic toll collection (ETC) programme from December 1, the state highways department is working to replicate the same at its toll plazas, including the ones on ECR and OMR, in a bid to ease traffic.
Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation Limited (TNRDCL), which operates toll plazas within city limits and on the outskirts, held a meeting with various stakeholders and private firms to introduce the NHAI’s radio frequency identification (RFID) based FASTag. The plan is to convert the two lanes now dedicated for residents into lanes for FASTag.
The state highways department is planning to adopt the ETC programme (FASTag) at its toll plazas very soon, said a senior official in the department.
At present, authorities issue passes (local tag) for vehicles of residents living along the IT corridor, besides smart cards for commercial vehicle operators in the vicinity, and they are exempted from paying toll. The TNRDCL is maintaining two lanes as local tag lanes in each toll plaza.
With the rise in number of vehicles in and around the IT corridor, authorities are contemplating to double the number of local tag lanes to ensure seamless traffic, which can later be turned into lanes for FASTag .
The Rajiv Gandhi IT Expressway and ECR see around 1.50 lakh vehicles a day. “Of these, around 50% are vehicles of locals. We are now planning to issue RFID based tags that can be fitted to the wind shield of the vehicle. It will also enable other FASTag fitted vehicles to pass the toll booths along the stretch at ease,” said an official manning the toll booth.
“We are looking for an agency to carry out the task of issuing FASTags to local tag users and other motorists,” said a senior state highways official. However, the efforts of authorities are yet to receive patronage from regular road users. The department has been campaigning to encourage more people to opt for the tags that reduce their waiting time.
Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com
Chennai:28.11.2019
Following National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is all set to enforce the electronic toll collection (ETC) programme from December 1, the state highways department is working to replicate the same at its toll plazas, including the ones on ECR and OMR, in a bid to ease traffic.
Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation Limited (TNRDCL), which operates toll plazas within city limits and on the outskirts, held a meeting with various stakeholders and private firms to introduce the NHAI’s radio frequency identification (RFID) based FASTag. The plan is to convert the two lanes now dedicated for residents into lanes for FASTag.
The state highways department is planning to adopt the ETC programme (FASTag) at its toll plazas very soon, said a senior official in the department.
At present, authorities issue passes (local tag) for vehicles of residents living along the IT corridor, besides smart cards for commercial vehicle operators in the vicinity, and they are exempted from paying toll. The TNRDCL is maintaining two lanes as local tag lanes in each toll plaza.
With the rise in number of vehicles in and around the IT corridor, authorities are contemplating to double the number of local tag lanes to ensure seamless traffic, which can later be turned into lanes for FASTag .
The Rajiv Gandhi IT Expressway and ECR see around 1.50 lakh vehicles a day. “Of these, around 50% are vehicles of locals. We are now planning to issue RFID based tags that can be fitted to the wind shield of the vehicle. It will also enable other FASTag fitted vehicles to pass the toll booths along the stretch at ease,” said an official manning the toll booth.
“We are looking for an agency to carry out the task of issuing FASTags to local tag users and other motorists,” said a senior state highways official. However, the efforts of authorities are yet to receive patronage from regular road users. The department has been campaigning to encourage more people to opt for the tags that reduce their waiting time.
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