New Toll System

The access controlled highways in India will soon have a new toll system, wherein a person will have to pay only for the distance he travels on the highway and not for the entire stretch. `This will be enabled by using Radio-Frequency Identification tags (RFID) on the vehicle, where a camera would read the tag and registration number at the entry and exit of the vehicle on the expressway and would calculate the distance travelled.

Radio-frequency tags

Railways in India have been using the radio-frequency tags to track coaches, wagons and locomotives and to know their exact location for better transparency in its functioning. It enables automatic identification to track inventory and equipment using radio waves. Hence, this wireless system helps to minimize errors in the task which was initially done manually. 

Analysis

India had introduced the first RFID enabled tolling system at Charoti Toll Plaza in Thane, in the year 2013. The motive behind it was to enable e-poll and to stop the payment of cash, which often led to cases of pilferage. The new idea of paying highway toll only for the distance travelled rather than the general toll for using national highways will be introduced on the 135 km long Eastern Peripheral Expressway covering cities in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh closer to Delhi.

Assessment

This new innovation of pay per use would benefit the commuter as he is charged only for the distance travelled. The set up of this system might be expensive but it may reduce labor costs and improve efficiency. RGID tags reduce travel time and would prevent congestion at check points. It also complies with the digital economy plan of our Prime Minister, who has insisted on providing digital identity tag in all new vehicles for electronic payment. Countries like Australia, Europe and US have been experimenting with this system of distance based electronic tolling. However, there can be privacy and security issues wherein the data on the tag could be manipulated.