Zip Zam Zoom through National Highway Toll Gates with Prepaid Card

 

IHMCL has released a RFP on 11^th November for Selection of Service Provider for implementation of closed loop pre-paid card for toll payments.

The whole project is divided into two phases

o Phase 1 – Implementation in pre-paid closed system

o Phase 2 – Upgradation to Semi-closed or Open system (as required in future)  

Highlights of the RFP are as under: -

The co-branded pre-paid card shall be acceptable only at designated POS by NHAI/IHMCL for toll payments.

Card Loading: -

o Cash loading through cash, online recharge via UPI, debit, credit card, and net-banking

o Provide facility to automate top-up of card from any bank account/credit card in case of card balance goes below a minimum threshold value

Important Note:  While selling a card, the card cost to a customer should not exceed Rs. 50/- inclusive of GST, etc.

Integrate with the Toll Management System/software deployed at toll plazas: -

The pre-paid co-branded card system shall be integrated with the Toll Management Systems deployed at the toll plazas.

A toll operator should be able to select vehicle class and the applicable toll fee should be deducted from the pre-paid card on tapping the POS device.

All transaction captured by the pre-paid card system should tally with the data captured by the TMS system.

 

Upgradation to semi-closed or open system payment: -

A toll collector shall be able to select the class of an approaching vehicle, and upon selection the appropriate fee shall be displayed on the User Display Fare.

Implementation plan

Phase 1 -

POC At one toll plaza Within 7 days of LOA

Roll Out At all operational NH toll plazas Within 30 days of successful conduct of Pilot or

issue of LOA, whichever earlier

Setting up of Customer care/Helpdesk call centre within 30 days of issue of LoA

 

Phase 2 -

Upgradation to semi closed or Open system as required by IHMCL after 6 months or later.

The Card Application should have the following customer-friendly features: -

Pass facility – local exemption, monthly pass, return journey, etc. should be able to be configurable

in the system as per applicable rules.

Cashback / Special Schemes - Any scheme such as Cashback etc. should be configurable as per requirement of Authority.

SMS/ Email confirmation (if registered) -

 SMS should be sent immediately to user

 Email should be received immediately

 

Balance Enquiry -

 The balance can be checked online and through call center (based on card number)

 The balance / limit in each card & account can be checked at POS machine installed at toll

On the date of issuance of the RFP, NHAI has 610 Toll Plazas spread across India

 

Background:

Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways vide Notification dt 6^th November, 2020 made FASTag mandatory in old vehicles also i.e. M and N category of motor vehicles (four wheelers) sold before 1st December, 2017 through amendments in CMVR, 1989, by 1st of January 2021

As per Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, since 1st December 2017, the FASTag had been made mandatory for all registration of new four wheeled Vehicles and is being supplied by the Vehicle Manufacturer or their dealers.

It had further been mandated that the renewal of fitness certificate will be done only after the fitment of FASTag for the Transport Vehicles.

It may be noted that for National Permit Vehicles the fitment of FASTag has been mandated since 1st oct 2019.

Further the notification also states that a valid FASTag is mandatory while getting a new 3rd Party Insurance through an amendment in FORM 51 (certificate of Insurance), wherein the details of FASTag ID shall be captured. This shall be applicable w.e.f. 1 April 2021.

The main focus of this notification is to ensure payment of fees be 100% at Toll Plazas through Electronic Means only and that the vehicles pass seamlessly through the Fee Plazas.

The secondary focus is on NIL waiting time at the Plazas, to save fuel.

All the participants in this process i.e Issuing Banks, National Highways of India, MORTH, Toll Operators are gearing themselves to avoid last-minute glitches at the toll gates.

 

Source Links for this Blog Post:

RFP for Selection of Service Provider for implementation of closed loop pre-paid card for toll payments @ http://ihmcl.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/FinalRFPPrepaidCard.pdf

NHAI to soon launch toll payments on national highways via prepaid cards @ https://www.timesnownews.com/auto/car-news/article/nhai-to-soon-launch-toll-payments-on-national-highways-via-prepaid-cards/687791

MoRTH issues notification for Promotion of Digital and IT based payment of fees through FASTag; all 4 wheel vehicles required to have FASTags from 1st January 2021 @ https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1671049