Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now being explored to assist the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in the verification of toll collection at high-value toll plazas. On Thursday, Lok Sabha was informed by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari that the government is thinking of installing audit cameras to check the number and classification of vehicles passing through toll gates independently.
In a recent instance at Atraila Shiv Gulam toll plaza in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, Gadkari pointed out that illegal transactions took place, where a part of the cash was taken and based on an unauthorized handheld machine they conducted it instead of the official toll management system software. Following this, NHAI has taken extra steps to fortify the processes that enable the collection of cash for the non-FASTag vehicles and avoid any financial discrepancies.
The government is planning to install stronger surveillance systems to prevent fraudulent practices. The efforts will be directed to accurately recall the number of vehicles crossing through the toll plazas with the recorded charge receipts while completely keeping away unevenness in toll collection.
To a question from DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran on the steps taken to check toll overcharges on national highways, Gadkari stated that the government is continuously working to make toll management better.
In line with a broader plan to eliminate barriers to toll collection, the NHAI has sought bids for the installation of a Fastag and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) based toll collection system at five toll plazas, namely Gharaunda, Choryasi, Nemili, UER-II (Urban Extension Road) and Dwarka Expressway. With this system, FASTag will be the only means of collection of user fees, thus making the use of cash a mute point and very efficient. The medium that will be affected is non-FASTag vehicles, which will receive e-notices to further streamline the toll collection process and keep losses low.
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