National Highway Authority (NHA) is working on a project to facilitate commuters/passengers traveling on motorways and highways by introducing a uniform way of payment for toll tax collection which would help in reducing huge rush at toll plazas and save their time as well.
Official sources on Monday said currently the Authority has installed E-tag facility on M-1, M-3 and M-4 while Frontier Works Organization (FWO) has installed M-tag on M-2 (Islamabad- Lahore).
The E-tag electronic tolling is based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFI) and transponders are using the Dedicated Short- range Communications (DSRC) protocol. The system uses electronic transponders called E-tags mounted on inside of the vehicles' windscreen.
The sources said National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is providing E-tag services to NHA on motorways (M-1, M-3 and M-4). E-tag is a free flow tolling electronic toll collection system used on all motorways.
With regard to features of E-tag system, they said these include transparency in toll collection, better control, monitoring and management of data and toll at entry exit points, customized reports such as financial and traffic turnover entry/exit management, fast entry/exit points, availability of data such as CNIC, registration, model and make and rechargeable credit mechanism.
The sources said as vehicle approaches toll plaza the Radio Frequency (RF) field emitted from the antenna activates the transponder. The transponder broadcasts a signal back to the lane antenna with some basic information.
That information is transferred from lane antenna to the central database. Toll tax is deducted from the driver if the toll lane has a gate. Then, a green light indicates that the driver can proceed.