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Mamuni Das

Selected consulting firm needs to submit report within a year

New Delhi April 18 Seven consulting firms from Europe, the US and Malaysia have bid for providing advisory services for deciding the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) blueprint for National Highways in India.

The firm which bags the mandate would have to advise National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on various issues including the technology standard to be adopted for electronic tolling systems in the country, said official sources. The electronic tolling systems equipment market in India is estimated to be worth at least Rs 600 crore.

The electronic toll collection system would allow road users to attach on-board units on the windscreens of their vehicles, ensuring automatic debit of the toll amount when they drive past toll plazas. Thus, the road users do not have to stop or slow down to make toll payments.

CLEARING HOUSE

The consultant would also have to advise on ensuring interoperability across electronic tolling systems and setting up a central clearing-house mechanism for the toll collected at various toll plazas along a stretch of national highway.

The clearing-house concept is important since various toll plazas along a highway stretch would be managed by different road operators and the user fees (toll payments) have to accrue to different players.

NHAI's earlier bid to set up electronic tolling systems in certain highway stretches was aborted following a dispute between two factions of companies supporting different technology standards of tolling equipment. Each group wanted NHAI to adopt the technology standard that it followed. On one side was Austrian firm Efkon Group supporting ISO CALM technology standard, on the other were firms such as Kapsch, GEA, IBI, Q-Free, CS Route and Elkosta.

Following this, NHAI decided to get expert advice from international consultants on the technology standard that would be most suitable for Indian highways.

"We are technically evaluating the bids. After technical qualification, the financial bids of those firms that have qualified would be opened," said sources. After the tender is awarded, the consulting firm would have to submit a report on ITS blueprint within a year.

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