The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is determined to introduce Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) over all the toll plazas situated at National Highways on all over the country within 31st March 2014.
This will be probably one of the best steps after abolition of state wise permits for commercial vehicles.
Here is a back of the envelope calculation:
- Mumbai to Delhi- 1600 km
- Toll plaza- every 100 Km
- 16 Toll Plaza
- Waiting time to pay toll- 15 min on an average (do note cars move faster than truck- even at toll)
- Time spent- 4 hours per journey !!
- Fuel spent in 4 hours= Rs. 2000 (ask me how I got this !!)
So you add 4 hours and Rs. 2000 per journey from Mumbai to Delhi just to PAY toll !!
Multiply by number of vehicle per day and you get the national loss. It is almost stupid that we are discussing this in 2013 when USA implemented the same in 1960s !! Even a Malaysia or a Thailand are ahead of us by 20 years in Electronic Tolling.
Electronic Toll should be a tender condition for anyone taking up a toll booth operation- this is not rocket science and technology costs nothing compared to losses.
Most importantly- a fine of Rs. 1000 needs to be enacted for vehicles using Electronic Toll gate without a tag. Else- it will be back to square one.
Will it be enforced? Give 50% to toll booth operator and it very much will !! Ever noticed the keenness and speed of towing guys to pull you vehicle away from no-parking ? Well they get Rs. 150 per pickup (In Mumbai) so they are more than keen !!
