Introduction
India is trying something new with toll plazas. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has started an unmanned toll plaza at the Bakkarwala toll booth on the Dwarka Expressway. This is the first of its kind in the country.
The main goal is to get rid of cash booths and people working at the toll gates. Instead, the new system uses technology to allow cars to pass without stopping. This means faster travel times and less congestion on the roads.
How It Works
The unmanned toll plaza is built around three main types of technology:
- FASTag Scanners: Each toll lane has sensors that read FASTags. When a car approaches, the scanner checks the tag. If the payment is done, the barrier opens immediately.
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras: These high-speed cameras record the car’s license plate. They help check if drivers have enough balance or if they are breaking any rules.
- Sensor-Based Boom Barriers: These barriers work with the FASTag system. They only lift when the payment is confirmed, making the process cashless and easy.
In a perfect world, cars would zip through in seconds. But the reality is a bit different.
Challenges on the Ground
When reporters from India Today visited the Bakkarwala toll plaza, they found some problems. The technology didn’t work as smoothly as expected. The sensors often missed reading the FASTags quickly, causing delays. Many cars had to wait at the barriers.
In some cases, the boom gates stayed down because the sensors couldn’t read the FASTags. To help with this problem, NHAI sent staff members to each barrier. These workers had to step in and help cars move along.
What Drivers Are Saying
Drivers had mixed feelings about the new system. Some liked the idea of no cash and faster trips. However, others found it frustrating. One driver shared, “The system is confusing. The sensors don’t detect FASTags immediately, and we are often asked to reverse our cars by the staff on the ground. It defeats the whole purpose of having a humanless toll plaza.”
Why This Project Is Important
The Bakkarwala toll plaza is an important test for the NHAI. It is part of a bigger plan to modernize toll collection in India. The hope is that this new way of handling tolls will reduce mistakes and improve traffic flow.
An NHAI employee at the toll plaza, who asked to stay anonymous, acknowledged the problems. He noted these are just early-stage issues and will be worked out soon.
If the system is made to work better, it could change the way tolls operate in India. It could increase revenue, cut human error, and minimize traffic jams.
Ongoing Improvements
For now, the toll plaza at Bakkarwala is more semi-automated than fully unmanned. Staff members are still very important in managing traffic and assisting drivers. However, this project shows where India is heading in terms of improving road infrastructure.
Many places in India, including Punjab, are investing in better transport technologies. With the rise of FASTag adoption, the government is pushing for cashless tolling. Punjab is also seeing many infrastructure projects aimed at modernizing transport networks. This could lead to more unmanned toll plazas in the future.
Conclusion
The Bakkarwala toll plaza represents a new beginning for India’s highways. As the system improves and drivers get used to it, it could pave the way for smarter tolling solutions across the country. This change is not just about technology; it’s about making travel easier for everyone.
As time goes on, the success of the Bakkarwala toll plaza on the Dwarka Expressway might be a deciding factor in how quickly unmanned tolling becomes normal in India.
