Nilekani urged to head panel on highway toll

February 11, 2010 at 11:41 am | Posted in In the public domain, Nandan Nilekani, News Articles on ID cards, Process, Smart Cards, The Market | Comments Off on Nilekani urged to head panel on highway toll

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article104600.ece

News » National
NEW DELHI, February 10, 2010
Nilekani urged to head panel on highway toll
Special Correspondent

The Road Transport and Highways Ministry is contemplating seeking the services of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) chairman Nandan Nilekani to develop the software for collection of tolls on national highways and expressways.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath has requested Mr. Nilekani to head a committee to devise a technology to go along with the decisive thrust initiated for construction of highways and expressways to achieve the targeted GDP growth rate.

The Ministry is keen to evolve a system to ensure that it receives its share of the toll collected as presently the estimated leakage is in over Rs. 1,500 crore annually due to leakages.

Bifurcation

That being a cause the Ministry is also contemplating separating the tolling process from the contractors who construct the roads to do away with the leakages.

The aim is to have a tolling system which will be on par with international standards particularly because Mr. Nath is striving to get major players from across the globe to invest in the country and get their knowhow too.

It is not jut a question of ensuring a commensurate return on the investment to be made in the years to come but also ensure a seamless travel for commuters in general including commercial vehicles. Collection of toll at only one point is being envisioned.

The Ministry has also proposed a national permit for commercial vehicles to do away with time loss and harassment to these private operators. The Ministry is seeking to revamp the Motor Vehicles Act hoping to improve the road sector to international standards.