Mr. S. CHAKRAVARTY, Secretary – ATTSII

Mr. S. Chakravarty, formerly General Manager, RITES Limited has taken over as the Secretary, ATTSII after his retirement.  He brings with him a good 33+ years of rich experience in Telecom and associated fields.  Of this, he has spent almost eleven years working for the ITS industry in India on behalf of RITES, in addition to many other prestigious projects including Delhi Metro, Ennore Coal Port Project and Hyderabad Metro, to name a few.

Mr.  Chakravarty has several firsts to his credit including the planning and implementation of the first-ever HTMS (Highway Traffic Management System) in India on the Kotputli-Amer section of NH8 during 1999-2001 for NHAI.  He has also provided consultancy to NHAI for planning, design and tender documentation for a good number of HTMS / Tolling / WIM (Weigh-in-motion) systems in various parts of India.  He was also instrumental in creating the basic tender specifications for the ITS project of Delhi Police prior to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010.

Prior to RITES he had useful stints in the erstwhile Overseas Communications Service (now called Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited) and Bharat Electronics Limited where also he has several firsts under his belt.  His rich experience in technology as well as having been a key player in major infrastructure projects in India makes him a fit candidate to function as Secretary, ATTSII.

Covered By

Editor

Indian Tollways

Kapsch TrafficCom consortium successfully launches ETC system in Poland Traffic Technology

The Polish Directorate for National Roads and Highways (GDDKiA) has said that the Kapsch TrafficCom consortium has successfully launched the country’s ‘viaToll’ electronic toll collection (ETC) system this week. The Kapsch consortium has implemented a comprehensive and state-of-the-art ETC system on the existing road network of approximately 1,560km (970 miles), which applies to all vehicles weighing over 3.5 tons. The consortium will also provide commercial operation of the system for the next eight years through its Polish operation’s company and will continue to extend the existing system to additional roads during the operational period. The Polish Finance Ministry expects that the system will increase the country’s revenues by about US$145 million (PLN400 million) by the end of this year.

“The entire system is now operational,” enthused Michael Gschnitzer, Kapsch TrafficCom’s sales director. “Until today we had successfully registered more than 300,000 vehicles – in the upcoming days we expect to distribute around 25,000 onboard units daily. As a result of the big interest of the road users, we extended the capacity and working hours on most of the points of sale. The mobile enforcement units already successfully control whether vehicles above 3.5 tons are properly equipped with OBUs. The system was implemented in record time. For the whole implementation, we had not more than eight months. There is still enough to do for us, but the system could now successfully go into operation.”

Workshop on Nationwide Electronic Toll Collection, held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on June 14, 2011

• Mr. C P Joshi , Honrable Minister Road Transport and Highways
• Mr.  Nandan Nilkani , Chairman , UIDAI
• Mr. R S GUJRAL , Chairman NHAI
• Mr. Ravi Palekar , GM (Electronics) , NHAI – Addressing the gathering
• Mr. Sachin Bhatia, CEO, Metro Infrasys

Workshop on Nationwide Electronic Toll Collection held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. With an objective of paving way for a unified Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) technology for National Highways in India, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways constituted a Committee under the chairmanship of Shri Nandan Nilekani Chairman of UIDAI with a mandate to examine all technologies available for Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) and recommend the most suitable one for implementation throughout India. The other members of the Committee are Prof. Pankaj Jalote, Director, IIIT-Delhi ; Dr. Kolin Paul, Asst. Professor, IIT-Delhi ; Shri A.V. Sinha, DG (Road Development) & Special Secretary, MoRT&H and Shri. V.L. Patankar, Member (Technical), NHAI (Member Secretary).

The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Dr. C.P. Joshi has said that we should chalk out a plan to increase the percentage of national highways from present 2.2 % to 5 % in the next 10 years. Delivering inaugural address at the Consultation Workshop with the Technology Providers and Concessionaires in respect of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) here today, he said that keeping in view the various types of highways there should be a hybrid pattern of toll collection. The Workshop was jointly organized by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, National Highways Authority of India & National Informatics Centre. The Chairman of UIDAI Shri Nandan Nilkeni & Minister of State for RT&H Shri Tusharbhai A. Chaudhary also addressed the workshop. Shri R.S. Gujral, Secretary Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and Dr. V.K. Gairola, D.G (NIC) were present.

Based on the recommendations of the committee headed by Mr. Nandan Nilekani to use RFID technology for ETC, the Apex Committee, responsible for ETC implementation planning, is in the process of prescribing certain standards which should be complied with all over the country to ensure interoperability. The primary purpose of this workshop was to take feedback from the key stakeholders, comprising concessionaires and ETC technology service providers. Security, cost effectiveness, convenience and scalability have been the main criteria based on which the detailing has been done.

Based on the feedback, the specifications and data detailing will be finalized for open market release. The plan is that the authorized manufacturers will be producing Transceivers and Tags based on these standards, the concessionaires will be procuring these Transceivers and in turn, the technology service providers will be integrating the entire ETC system at the toll plaza. Although details on other aspects like clearing house are being worked out simultaneously, majority of the decisions will depend upon these standards only.

Followings are the Tolling Companies, RFID Manufacturer and concessionaire took part in the workshop:

• Kapsch Metro
• Egis Infra
• L&T Infra
• GMR
• HCC Infrastructure
• JICA
• IRDSA
• DSC
• EFKON India
• Siemens
• IAITO Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
• ESSEN, Mumbai
• ATT System, Banglore
• Mitsubishi
• IBI Group
• Neology
• Steria
• Tag Factory

Brief of discussion over finalization of technology between committee and Industry Peoples:

• Dr. B.K. Gairola, Director General, NIC  – extreme left
• Dr. Y.K. Sharma, DDG, NIC - middle position
• Dr. Rajat Moona, Director General of CDAC, IIT Kanpur
• Dr. Y.K. Sharma, DDG, NIC - extreme Right

Mr. Venkat from GMR expressed change from IP 66 to IP 65 for the readers as IP 65 is also good enough and IP 66 will increase the cost for the readers without any additional value.

Mr. Hari from Efkon
He raised an issue over the  relative humidity of 100% for Transceiver antenna.

Committee Conclusion :
Committee agreed for the IP 65 standard and 95% relative humidity as it comply against all possible environmental threat at toll scenario.

Mr. Anand Shenoy from IAITO Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
Raised his voice over minimum requirement of reading of 10 Tags per second with 240 bits of EPC memory and 64 bits of Tag Id.

Committee Conclusion: committee agreed onto change it to 2 Tags per second with above said minimum requirement. On the other query raised by Mr. Shenoy that the data retention period must be 3-4 year for the tag memory instead of 10 years as their is no UV protection asked for the tag and without any special material with the effect of UV rays its hard to maintain the data in tag for 10 years, The committee replied as they will keep it under consideration and if required they will bring it in next phase.

On the query raised by Team from Metro Infrasys- Mr. Nitin Thakur and Mr. Harimohan for the option of having color coded  Tags for different class of vehicles, as it will help in operation at toll plazas. The Committee said that it is difficult to see the color in the moving car in the sun. However committee will discuss it in next phase.

Mr. Vipul  Sharma(Left), Mr. Mayank Manish(Right)
The long discussed topic was the polarization standard for the antenna, Panel has asked for circular polarization pattern for the antenna but Mr. Vipul Sharma and Mayank Manish from one of the leading manufacturer of RFID Equipment Neology reasoned to have it linearly polarized due to its long range and less interference phenomenon, also linearly polarized antennas can work at higher speed , committee keep this for discussion and will revert again.

Mr. Manoj Agarwal and Mr. Manish from Delhi Gurgaon Expressway strongly supported the idea of a law for putting a penalty on cash vehicles coming to Tag lane .

For the standard for the communication between plaza server and CCH server, there will be addition of Plaza id into the prescribed format by the committee. Plaza level fare plan and policy will be governed by the plaza itself while the global discount will be governed by the CCH server and will be updated in all the plaza server by CCH server itself. Committee also agreed to look into the various aspects of fare plans at different plazas.

Highlights of the Workshop:

ETC critical components:
Tag Distribution Channel & Inventory Management

• On-line channels by user
• Authorized service centers of vehicles (Service centre need to install the SPV client software and antenna connection), since centre must have authorized people to affix tags.
• RTO(Operation is similar to above)
• Vehicle dealer network(Operation is similar to above)
• Authorized point of sale installation(POS can be insurance companies, PUC centers, Petrol Pumps etc; Operation is similar to above)

Inventory Management of Tags:
SPV will keep track of allocated EPC Ids, Tag Ids etc. It will perform a demand forecast Tags and keep the tags available for distribution through distribution channel.

Handling Special Cases

• Valid ETC enabled vehicle was ejected due to non-read of Tag – Premium cash lane should verify it with the ETC database.
• Clone Tag – If customer complains/suspects that his/her Tag is cloned, Tag re-initiation is to be done for same Tag. Old Tag value is marked for special handling.
• Change in registration number of vehicle – Vehicle should approach distribution channel network and get a new tag. Old tag is to be destroyed physically and listed for special handling.
• De-registration of vehicle (due to destruction/ end of life/ Export etc.)-Tag is to be destroyed physically and listed for special handling.

Listing for Special Attention
Vehicle is listed for special attention following conditions:

• Insufficient balance as determined by clearing house
• Credit card co. declined the payment
• On Police look-out
• Suspected cloned Tag
• Tag with invalid Vehicle Registration no. (e.g. when Registration no. is changed)
• When toll plaza operator notices Tag carrying details different from vehicle itself (e.g. the vehicle Registration no. and/ or Vehicle class)

Videos

Conclusions drawn at the end of the seminar:

Documents Attached:

• Agenda Workshop
• Apex Committee for ETC Implementations – GOI, Draft Specifications Document
• ETC Report on RFID – July 2010

We will be awarding 7300 km minimum this year: NHAI

In an interview with ET Now, Dr. JN Singh , Director Finance, NHAI, talks about the NHAI’s future projects and future strategy. Excerpts:

ET Now: Could you outline for us the quantum of new orders you have released in the first two months of this financial?

Dr. JN Singh: Around 1000 kms is what we have already released this year so far in the first two months. We are geared for around say 700-800 km in the next quarter as well per month.

ET Now: So can I safely assume that you will meet your guidance of awarding new contracts of at least 7500 crores?

Dr. JN Singh: Yes, 7300 km is what we definitely feel that we will be achieving this year. Most of the awards we expect right now that will be completed by December-January itself and we are fully geared for that. The feasibility reports are very well prepared. The land acquisition is substantially in place, and the things look okay right now.

ET Now: But lately we have seen that there have been several issues as far as land acquisition is concerned. Recently there has been widespread violence in Uttar Pradesh over land acquisition. How is NHAI looking to tackle this problem?

Dr. JN Singh: Fortunately as far as NHAI is concerned, we have not experienced such type of opposition so far. Maybe this opposition is because the UP projects are also taking commercial ventures along with the road and that’s what angers farmers or the land holders. As far as NHAI is concerned, it is doing purely a road building. It is not so far at least is mixing commercial ventures with the roadside. So that’s why though there would be some complaints about the lower rate that we are offering or at times people would like to go to arbitration for land acquisition but there has been no concerted move at any place, anywhere in the country that land acquisition as far as NHAI is concerned is a problem. It is of course an issue.

Click here to read full conversation

Kapsch TrafficCom delivers 30,000 transponder units for the Eazy Pass electronic toll system in Ireland

Kapsch TrafficCom AG has secured an order for the first Eazy Pass electronic toll system in Dublin. The company has satisfied the particularly demanding criteria of Eazy Pass and is to supply 30,000 transponder units (or tags for short) to Ireland. Eazy Pass will be used on the new M50 toll route in Dublin. The system will also allow barrier-free driving throughout Ireland. Eazy Pass enables electronic payment at all Irish toll stations, without the need to stop.

The latest order for Kapsch TrafficCom comes from Ireland. The Kapsch TrafficCom subsidiary Kapsch TrafficCom Ltd. is to supply 30,000 transponder units to Dublin. These will be used in the first electronic toll system Eazy Pass on the new M50 toll route in Dublin. Eazy Pass is now also accepted on the N4/N6 Kilcock-Kinnegad, N8 Fermoy Bypass, Dublin Port Tunnel, East-Link and M1 Dundalk Western Bypass. Within the scope of this order, Kapsch will supply transponder units for passenger cars and tags for goods vehicles.

“We have worked with Kapsch TrafficCom since we pioneered electronic tolling in Ireland. Kapsch is our principle technology supplier and a real key partner. We are therefore very pleased that Kapsch TrafficCom has been able to meet our requirements in order to support us in what is a particularly important step towards the expansion of electronic tolling in Ireland,” explains Dermot MacEvilly, CEO of Eazy Pass.

Vienna, 12th September 2008

For further information:
Brigitte Herdlicka
Public Relations & Sponsoring
Kapsch Group
Phone: +43 (0) 50 811 1705
A-1120 Vienna, Wagenseilgasse 1
E-mail: brigitte.herdlicka@kapsch.net
www.kapschtraffic.com
www.kapsch.net

Kapsch TrafficCom delivers Toll Systems for Urban Motorways in Bangkok

Kapsch TrafficCom impresses yet again with a new project in Asia: The company is constructing modern toll systems for three of the largest motorways in Bangkok. Kapsch TrafficCom Sweden will be working with two Thai companies under the joint venture FKS. The order for more than 55 kilometres of motorway in total will be completed in August 2009. Its worth is estimated at 8.5 million euros.

As from autumn 2009, visitors to Bangkok will be escorted on their journey into the centre of the city by Austrian toll equipment. For Kapsch TrafficCom was able to notch up an order recently to fit out three large motorways in Bangkok. More specifically, the company will install the system by order of the Expressway & Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (EXAT), in cooperation with the two Thai companies Fatima Group and Smart Traffic Co Ltd – as FKS Joint Venture. The Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway (consisting of three sections with a total length of 27.1 kilometres), the Chalong Rat Expressway (six-lane with a length of 18.7 km) and the Ramindra Outer Ring Project (with a total length of 9.5 kilometres) are set to be equipped with toll systems.

“Kapsch TrafficCom has repeatedly been successful in Asia. By replacing the 8-year old equipment and upgrading the electronic toll system, the flow of traffic on these three motorways will be sped up and traffic jams will to a large extent be avoided. This was possible primarily because of the extensive expertise of our employees and due to our many years of experience on the Asian market”, declares Erwin Toplak, Member of the Board, Kapsch TrafficCom AG.

The contract to set up the largest electronic toll system to date and a central system for registering and guiding traffic comprises altogether 80 lanes. The new infrastructure will include 100,000 CEN DSRC compatible transponders, 100,000 non-contact smart cards and other equipment (i.a. server equipment, a network and a CCTV video camera system). The system will be completed in autumn 2009 and comprises an order volume of approximately 8.5 million euros.

Kapsch TrafficCom is an international supplier of innovative road traffic telematics solutions. Its principle business is the development and supply of electronic toll collection (ETC) systems, in particular for the multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) of the traffic, and the technical and commercial operation of such systems. Kapsch TrafficCom also supplies traffic management systems, with a focus on road safety and traffic control, and electronic access systems and parking management. With more than 140 reference projects in 30 countries in Europe, Australia, Latin America, in the Asian/Pacific region and in South Africa, and with almost 12 million on-board units (OBUs) and nearly 11,000 equipped lanes, Kapsch TrafficCom has positioned itself among the leading suppliers of ETC systems worldwide. Kapsch TrafficCom is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and has subsidiaries and representative offices in 20 countries.

For further information:
Brigitte Herdlicka
Public Relations & Sponsoring
Kapsch Group
Phone: +43 (0) 50 811 1705
A-1120 Vienna, Wagenseilgasse 1
E-mail: brigitte.herdlicka@kapsch.net
www.kapschtraffic.com
www.kapsch.net

NHAI's First ETC(Electronic Toll Collection) PLAZA

Latest Headlines

• Get Started!
• Traffic Control
• Unveiling ID India Expo 2012 Conference Program
• E-Z pass only
• Engineering Procurement Construction Conference
• 2nd Annual Metro Expansion India
• Infrastructure Project Management and Delivery
• Project of six laning of Vijaywada –Gundugolanu section of NH 5 in Andhra Pradesh
• Japan keen on Bangalore-Chennai highway project
• Vinayak Chatterjee: The high road to efficiency