Date:13/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/13/stories/2008071354150400.htm

New Delhi

Bid to popularise smart tags on Expressway

Staff Reporter

As more commuters migrate to smart tags it will streamline traffic flow on the new Delhi-Gurgaon road

Users will have to pay Rs.1,500 as deposit
50 per cent concession for daily users

NEW DELHI: DSC Limited, the concessionaire for the newly commissioned Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, has launched a fresh drive to encourage commuters to migrate to smart tags. It has brought in a fresh consignment of smart tags for the cash-paying commuters who use the expressway every day.

DSC Director Manhad Narula said on Saturday that the state-of-the-art expressway was designed keeping in mind the extensive deployment of futuristic technology to handle high traffic volumes. “Smart tags are a futuristic tolling technology used internationally in sophisticated expressways to facilitate smooth traffic movement. We are confident that as more commuters migrate to smart tags it will help streamline traffic flow on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway as well as a much reduced waiting time for users paying cash,” said Mr. Narula. He stated that it was the company’s endeavour to make smart tags as the first toll payment choice for commuters and it was also in the process of developing multiple recharge options for them.

Smart tags allow commuters to pass through the toll plaza using dedicated tag lanes, Mr. Narula said, adding that the company has made an investment of more than Rs.10 crore in distributing 67,000 smart tags free of cost since the commissioning of the expressway. This had resulted in 35 per cent of the vehicular traffic passing through tag lanes daily on an average. From now on, users will need to pay Rs.1,500 as refundable security deposit for the smart tag as a safeguard against misuse.

A smart tag is an electronic device -- the size of a computer mouse -- which is installed on the windscreen behind the rear view mirror of the vehicle. It is charged with the denomination of the commuter’s choice and has the capability of interacting with sensors placed at the toll gates. This means that all commuters have to slow down to 15 km per hour near the toll gates. The sensor at the gates interacts with the smart tag, the transaction is recorded, and the toll deducted. Then the commuter hears a confirmation beep inside the car and he’s off. All his takes less than a second .

Designated lanes for smart tag holders have been created to ensure a seamless drive through.

For daily users – smart express customers -- a 50 per cent concession on applicable toll rates is offered that also has 30-day validity.