RFID based E-toll system introduced on Pakistan Motorways

Posted on November 20, 2007
Filed Under >Owais Mughal, Economy & Development
41 Comments
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Owais Mughal

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.”


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.”

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

41 responses to “RFID based E-toll system introduced on Pakistan Motorways”

  1. ali says:

    han an ka to dawa hy k etag main corruption nhe hote but an k toll operators ny an k as daway ko khak main mla dya hey. Jtne corruption etag LHR aur KSK aur FSD main hote hy atne corruption to FWO waly b nhe krty. ary koi vechile etag wale lane main aa jye card ly kr to foran he card pakar kr jeb main dal letay hian. aur jo vechiles pora pora cash dain an ko b add nhe krty blkay cancel kr dty hain all truck kha jatay hain. aur guards ko kah kr without tags gariyan enter krwaty hain wo card aur pesa an ke jeb main. ye NADRA waly aa gye hain ab khanay phly FWO waly khatay thay. an k guards to FWO k operators aur guards sy pasy b pakarty hain. aur pora motor way ghom aur an ko jhot boll do jo kareeb tareen station hey ye kahen gy ok aur jawo ge mojan he mojan…. hahahahah mjy apne vechile pr tag laga kr bht maza aya na he challan update hota hy aur na he lamba toll pay krna parta hy. agr ye log corruption kr skty hain to main kyan nhe. jasy ko tesa he sahe.

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