NHAI Introduces Stricter IT Standards for FASTag Toll Plazas
The implementation of more stringent IT standards by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been a major step towards improving the effectiveness and user experience at FASTag toll plazas. It is anticipated that with this action, commuters will hopefully be relieved of a major source of frustration which is the long-standing problems of traffic jams and inadequate upkeep at these toll sites.
A recently published, story headlined "FASTag made highways cashless" tells us why Tolls aren't jam-free: it was brought to light that commuters frequently encounter issues at toll gates even when their FASTags have enough balance because of malfunctions or inefficiencies in the hardware and software installed at the plazas. The Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), the NHAI's toll collection agency, must receive an undertaking from system integrators addressing these concerns. IHMCL states that any deviations discovered at designated toll plazas resulting from equipment issues will result in an immediate suspension of empanelment and forfeiture of the bank guarantee.
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Additionally, the NHAI has mandated that all equipment, including RFID (tag) readers, antennae, automatic number plate scanners, toll lane controllers, and toll plaza servers, have the Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) certification. By making sure that only the most dependable and effective equipment is used at toll plazas, this action seeks to reduce the possibility of technical problems and interruptions.
Additionally, the NHAI has decided to only appoint experienced system integrators and to mandate that they only purchase equipment from suppliers approved by the Ministry of Electronics and IT's STQC directorate (MeitY). This action is intended to guarantee that the equipment used at toll plazas is of the greatest caliber and can endure the demanding conditions of extensive use.
"We are taking a two-pronged approach to address issues people face due to technical reasons," stated a spokesperson. "First and foremost, we are making sure that just seasoned athletes are impaneled and that the gear they utilize is approved by the most reliable official body. To improve issue monitoring and resolution, we are also stationing engineers at the NHAI regional offices." This all-inclusive strategy seeks to improve commuter experience by addressing the underlying causes of technological problems.
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