• State-owned National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will track around 100 toll plazas with GIS-based software for seamless movement of traffic at National Highways.

• Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), a company promoted by NHAI, has developed GIS-based software for real-time monitoring of waiting time at toll plazas. 

• These toll plazas have been identified based on congestion feedback received through National Highway helpline 1033.

• The monitoring service will be extended to more toll plazas in a phased manner.

What is Geographic Information System (GIS)?

• A Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses and displays geographically referenced information from a variety of data sources. 

• GIS allows for the integration and collective analysis of geospatial data from multiple sources, including satellite imagery, GPS recordings, and textual attributes associated with a particular space. 

• Remote sensing data and imagery from Earth observations can be visualised within a GIS to provide more context about any area under study. 

• GIS is used in nearly all fields that need to understand the spatial patterns and relationships between different datasets, such as land-use planning, emergency response, and resource management.

How will it work at toll plazas?

• The live monitoring and tracking system will provide congestion alerts and lane distribution recommendations when the queue of vehicles at a toll plaza is more than the prescribed limit.

• Apart from providing the name and location of the toll plaza, the software will share details related to the live status of queue length in meters, total waiting time and vehicle speed at toll plaza.

• It will also provide congestion alert and lane distribution recommendation, if the queue of vehicles at a toll plaza is more than the prescribed limit.

• In addition, the software will provide updates related to current weather conditions and information about local festivals, enabling NHAI officials to take pre-emptive measures to manage the traffic load and decongest the toll plazas. 

• The live monitoring and tracking system at the toll plazas will help to ensure free flow of traffic and a hassle-free tolling experience for commuters at fee plazas across the country.

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