IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

To cope with the enormous increase in traffic on the motorways, congestion at the toll plazas, both at the time of entry and exit, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has developed e-Toll system to ease movement of vehicles and fool proof accounting of vehicles. It would help overcome congestion which becomes acute during weekends, holiday seasons and even at specific times of each working day. The system basically consists of a re-usable electronic-tag which is attached to the windscreen of vehicles with a prepaid toll amount issued through e-Tag issuance booths placed just before entry to the motorway. Later on such booths would be established at different convenient locations and pre-pay facility for e-Tags will subsequently be through cheques, credit cards and kiosks.

When entering motorway vehicles with e-Tags will drive through the entry toll lane and in doing so a reader will capture details of the vehicle from the e-Tag. At the time of exit from the motorway the vehicle will again drive through the designated toll lane and during this process, a reader will read the vehicle's identity and the system will automatically deduct the applicable toll from the pre-paid amount. An LCD sign would inform the driver about the amount of tax deducted from his account.

In conjunction with the Ministry of Communications and the National Highways Authority (NHA), this system is now being offered at Peshawar, Islamabad and Lahore toll plazas. It would shortly be deployed at all entries/exits on the M1, M2 and M3.

A post-paid system will also be introduced for frequent users and fleet owners. Monthly billing for these will include registration number of vehicle, date/time of entry/exit record and toll charged.

This system was demonstrated to the Minister of Communications and senior officers of NHA whose decision to adopt this cutting edge system will provide far reaching benefits to the users of motorways.

The system provides additional benefits such as improved management for NHA, reliable financial reconciliation, real time information, no queuing and above all a cost-effective system with no cost to the general public.

Nadra's achievements vis-à-vis, issuance of Computerised National Identity Cards (CNIC), development of e-governance solutions which include the Multi Biometric e-Passport, Nadra Kiosks Event Registration (CRMS) for births, deaths, marriages, e-driving licenses, vehicle registration cards, arms licenses, etc have been internationally recognised and it has been placed in the top 50 companies of the world for secure identity documentation and is amongst only 21 recognised system integrators for this technology.

Quelle/Source: Unique Pakistan, 13.11.2007