Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is planning to reduce the time spent by motorists in waiting at toll gates for using Outer Ring Road (ORR).
As part of this initiative, the urban body plans to introduce prepaid cards and a new RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) system, which will cut short the time consumed for completing the transaction at the ORR toll collection booths.
Currently, only monthly cards are available for those who use ORR regularly. This option is used mainly by cab firms that make trips to airport, businessmen and techies.
The introduction of RFID-based toll payment, however, could make toll payment seamless. All that a car owner has to do is buy a reader strip, which costs less than Rs 200, and paste it on the windscreen.
The technology that uses radio-frequency identification allows toll booth to identify the user through a tag reader at exit points, captures the distance to be covered and automatically deducts the amount from the user’s account. Once the credit balance is depleted, the person has to top-up the account again.
HMDA is in talks with a bank for implementing the RFID facility. This system has already been implemented at toll gates of all national highways and now HMDA wants to follow the suit.
The city planner is contemplating to have a separate lane for RFID users at toll gates, which could allow vehicles using RFID tag to pass through the toll gate faster. The boom barrier will stop and give clearance to each appro-aching vehicle by capturing the reading and this process will be completed in less than 10 seconds.
Apart from RFID system, HMDA also plans to introduce prepaid cars which can be used by any car.
