NHAI to expand operations

September 20, 2006

nhai NEW DELHI, SEPT 20: With increased private investment in highway projects, national highways authority of India (NHAI) is playing a much smaller role in highway construction and is now expanding the scope of its operations by providing additional services such as traffic management and wayside amenities.

It has already opened 14 toll plazas on pilot basis on 14 highway stretches. The plazas have electronic toll collectors (ETC) and travellers need to fit their vehicles with electronic tags (On Board Units or OBUs). With the help of transponders, the ETC is able to deduct the toll from a bank account or from a prepaid card.

Alternatively, travellers can use smart cards to make payments. The toll can be transferred directly from the cardholder to the toll agency. The system helps ensure that there is accurate collection of toll.

It also eliminates the need for cash handling and customer account management; almost it would lower the operating costs of many toll facilities. It has proved quite a success and the Jaipur bypass electronic toll plaza has reported the highest toll collection in the country. NHAI is in plans to introduce the system on all stretches where the build-operate-transfer (BOT)-toll model is being used.

It is also looking to start intelligent transport systems on the highways by launching the advanced traffic management system. The system has electronic displays, which provide ready information and guidance to users, sends emergency assistance and issues alerts for abnormal road and weather conditions. Officiating chairman NHAI Satyanarayana Dash said, “Such devices will help in a smooth flow of traffic as well as bring about a reduction in road accidents.”