“Business Today” reports, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is taking steps to intensify its surveillance and monitoring of toll system operations across the country. The actions are a response to “reports of large scale fraud” involving mostly cash collection, which is a small percentage of overall transactions.
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told lawmakers the implemented measures include:
- regular government audits,
- appointing “systems integrators” to oversee toll plaza operations,
- annual government certification of toll systems software,
- fining or debarring errant toll road operators, and
- expanding barrier-free, all-electronic toll facilities.
In addition, NHAI is considering installing “AI-powered audit cameras” at some toll plazas to obtain independent verification of toll transactions and payments.
Hindustan Times also covers this story.