Page 52 - Traffic Infra Tech

COVER STORY PLUS

Is that feasible?
Well, we look at the feasibility
“Often the experience is that despite having thereof when we start thinking. That
FASTag and balance on the card, the toll plaza is the thought and now we have to
staff does not operate it. The general excuse is: look at how we can make it feasible.
‘Kaam nahin kar raha. Aap cash mein de kar You said in your address at the
jaao’. We have to bring in a system that if we conference that you are lucky to
be working with a minister who
want the road users to use the FASTag and if is pro-active and who takes a
the technology is non-functional at a toll plaza, personal interest in the work.
the road user must be entitled to a free pass. So, how is it working with
Mr Nitin Gadkari?
The moment we bring in that kind of discipline, It has been a wonderful
that operator will ensure that his technology is experience even though it has
functional 24/7. not been a long one. I was seven
months in NHAI and have been
with MoRTH since two months but
the first thing is that he is forward
toll plaza. If he has to queue up, be was only single lane. What I am looking. He looks forward to doing
there for long hours and be uncertain asking Akhilesh Srivastav (Chief something. He discusses. He is open
about timings, then it is not serving General Manager --IT & Highway to the others’ views. And he takes
the purpose. Added to that is also a Operations, NHAI) is that if you have those into consideration. We fondly
problem in certain cases where you eight lanes, first two lanes have call him, not out of any negativity,
have a closed tolling system or open to be dedicated as FASTag lanes. a road roller. He rolls over. That is
tolling system. In both those situations, Earlier it was one lane. Eventually the kind of enthusiasm he has. But
I end up paying more. For example if as penetration of FASTag goes up, I have also seen that when I give
my tolling plaza is at 60km, and if I it may need to be three lanes. But my view and he likes it, he says that
travel only for 20km, I am still paying a often the experience is that despite ‘your opinion is better than mine on
toll for 60km. I grudge that. So what I having FASTag and balance on the this’. What more do I need? We are
have requested my colleagues in NHAI card, the toll plaza staff does not working absolutely in tandem.
is to set a target for two to three years operate that. The general excuse
down the line, and graduate to a is: “Kaam nahin kar raha. Aap cash Quite a few companies abroad
system that gives a barrier boom free mein de kar jaao” (It is not working. have been wanting to start their
toll plaza. We have ANPR cameras and You pay in cash). This is because manufacturing units in India. A
a GPS system, and we must pay for probably there is an interest to go lot has been eased by Mr Modi’s
the toll for only that segment of the in for cash transaction. So I was government but what more
highway that we use. We are looking telling my team that we need to benefits can you give them to
at that but for that first you have stop that and for that if they need start their manufacturing
to have roads – if you do not have to sign a supplementary agreement units here?
roads then where will you use that with the concessionaire, they must Let them first begin manufacturing.
technology? That is why I am saying sign it. After such an installation, Let them first take advantage of the
that we should use the technology to we have to bring in a system that atmosphere that has been created.
optimize those solutions. if we want the road users to use Is the demand unending? Is this
We have been debating for ETC the FASTag and if the technology list unending? We have a complete
management on the toll plazas for is non-functional at a toll plaza, open door policy. We have given a
quite some time now. By the 31st the road user must be entitled to a preference to Make in India, and the
of October, 100 percent of lanes on free pass. The moment we bring in states are welcoming you. I think
the toll plazas have to be fixed with that kind of discipline, that operator there will have to be an end to ‘what
the ETC infrastructure, particularly will ensure that his technology is more’? And they have to become a
FASTag infrastructure. Earlier, it functional 24/7. part of the system.

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