National Highway Authority (NHA) is devising a plan for commuters to pay their toll tax through mobile and credit card against the current manual system.
The Authority is working on a project to facilitate commuters/passengers traveling on motorways and highways by introducing a uniform way of payment for the toll tax collection. This will help in reducing huge rush at toll plazas and will save their time as well.
Currently NHA 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).
However it was revealed in Senate Standing Committee on Communication that FWO is collecting extra charges from commuters as compared to the NHA-E-tag. The committee recommended an inquiry into the matter and also directed for implementing a uniform toll collection system throughout the country.
The E-tag electronic tolling is based on radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders using the dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) protocol. The system uses electronic transponders called E-tags mounted on the inside of the vehicles’ windscreen.
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.
Features of E-tag system
- 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
- Rechargeable credit mechanism
Operations of E-tag
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 the 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.
M tag is charging 510 rs for M2. .thats too much.
Hadd hai.
The mix of 3 toll systems has created lot of issues. NADRA was not awarded the tender for m3 which is being collected via M tag… And commuters are not able to enjoy the seemless experience of ETag as it was earlier. These different systems are forcing to use 2 tags and some times manual entry cards at fwo only plazas…. Please raise this issue too because NADRA is fully capable of running whole motorway toll collection system smoothly. One more fact is that FWO officials are corrupt and charge extra and many other tacts to earn illegally… Now a days… Traveling at motorway has become a challenge to understand and use the toll payment systems…
E-Tag is completely closed on M-1 since July and no sign of new M-TAG in
near future. M-1 is completely manual collection and there is full time
rush on toll plaza. It seems NHA is under huge pressure from FWO as
they kicked out NADRA and also unable to operate their-selves.