NHA, FWO to install electronic toll plazas on motorways

ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) signed an agreement at the NHA headquarters on Monday to install electronic toll plazas on motorways. 

Federal Minister for Commu­nications and Postal Services Asad Mahmood was the chief guest at the event. Direc­tor General FWO Major General Kamal Azfar, Federal Secretary for Communications and Chairman NHA Capt. (Retd) Mu­hammad Khurram Agha, Inspector General National Highways and Motorways Police Khalid Mahmood were also in attendance, among other senior officers.

NHA Member Finance Muhammad Azhar and Director IT FWO Brig. (Retd) Asif Siddique signed the agreement. The latter then gave a briefing on the electronic toll collection system. 

Asad Mahmood stated that the duration of the agreement for tax collection through the electronic toll plazas is 7 years, and can be extended further by 3 years. 

The toll plazas would include the installation of modern machinery, operational and management services, and other related services. They would enable accurate data collection regarding toll revenue, as opposed to that collected through manual payments of toll taxes. E-tolling would also allow the smooth flow of traffic and commercial activities due to reduced time, which would also secure the safety of passengers. 

Future plans include extending the electronic toll system to the national highways of the country. 

It is expected that the project would be completed within the next 8 months. Electronic toll tax systems will be installed on certain lanes at the Islamabad, Ravi, Kala Shah Kaku and Sambarial toll plazas. 

Major General Kamal Azfar presented shields to Asad Mahmood, Capt. (Retd) Muham­mad Khurram Agha and Khalid Mahmood on behalf of FWO.