Pakistan now joins the list of growing countries where RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) based electronic toll collection is in use. For now it has been introduced on Peshawar – Islamabad M1 and Islamabad – Lahore M2 Motorways. This technology allows the vehicles to pass through toll booths without stopping and toll amount is automatically deducted from the money account on record.
Here is how the system works. An RFID tag (transponder) is now available free-of-cost to motorists using Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar toll plazas. This tag is attached to a car’s wind shield.
News appearing to this effect in Dawn of November 7, 2007 says:
“Those who want to secure the RFID tag will be required to submit full particulars about their person, details of bank account and some other information. The NHA (National Highway Authority) staff posted at the plazas for selling of the tag will register all such details in their system.â€
On toll plazas, RFID Readers with antennas have been installed. When a vehicle approaches a toll plaza, the RFID Reader Antenna communicates wirelessly with the RFID tag located in the vehicle wind shield. At highway speeds (in excess of 100 kmph), the system identifies the car and charges the correct amount of toll to the bank account on record. The system which is installed in Pakistan, a vehicle will still have to stop at a booth but no human transaction between the vehicle occupants and toll booth operator is needed. I believe it is definitely a step in positive direction. It will reduce waiting lines at toll booths and save fuel.
Following is another excerpt from the original news that appears in Dawn of November 7, 2007.
“A very interesting feature of the new system is that the required amount would be electronically deducted from the bank account of the motorist. The e-toll will also have a fast tracking system installed which will detect wrong information givers. As such, in case there is no amount in the account of the person concerned the NHA electronic system will recognize it and signal stop by flashing the red light and the bar would not be lifted.â€
It appears in the news that after initial deployment at Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar toll plazas, the system will be extended to all toll plazas located on the motorways M1, M2 and M3.
The electronic toll system in Pakistan has been introduced by NHA (National Highway Authority) in collaboration with NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority).
Update: July 7, 2008:
This news update appears on July 7, 2008 in Jang. It shows 10210 vehicles have so far registered for the RFID tagged E-toll system on Pakistan Motorway Network.
References:
1. HyPass of Pakistan
2. National Highway Authority
3. National Database and Registration Authority
4. Title photo is from Wikipedia.com
@Tina
Yes, this system will not help 160Millions or Karachi’s sewage system. But if we want to implement sewage control system or stock management system for the agricultural market on Government administrative level (which can be very helpfull to stop smuggling and price hikes) , how are we going to develope it?, OH may be you suggest we contract out to indian companies or continue doing paper work.
I suggest NADRA should introduce hack proof property management system.
Sounds interesting, but y just the big highway, if certain cabbies and bus drivers volunteer to use RFID tags on their vehicles via a privacy preserving scheme (there r some), then we can get good data about our traffic and that can be used to built a better infrastructure.
Ya but asking NADRA to hook up the system, especially when tehy have hooked up my passport and my nic. and i think the passports already have RFIDs in them…
spooky!
I do in fact own a donkey…and she appreciates the cool weather as much as anybody else would….. :)
Lol, no offence to anyone, but I can’t stop laughing at what Eidee Man said.
For the record, I agree that RFID is the future but security and privacy are valid concerns as well. Technology should be embraced but it shouldn’t come at the cost of personal privacy.