NHAI receives application for ATMS

The authority plans to engage a service provider to design, install, test, commission and configure system integration and operations and maintenance of its ATMS. 

In Tamil Nadu, ATMS will initially be on the 121 kilometre stretch between Chennai and Tindivanam though it plans to cover all national highways in the state overseen by its 37 toll plazas. Coverage will be in two sections, the first being that between Chennai to Paranur near Chengalpattu and the next stretch being that from Chengalpattu to Tindivanam. The scheme is meant for implementation in national highways used by more than 40,000 vehicles per day. Simultaneously, work will also start on the Ambala – Zirkapur and Panipat – Ambala stretch in Punjab covering a distance of 142 kilometres. 

Top officials said that “once operational, India’s NH will be on par with that of the west.” While the cost for each stretch is yet to be worked out, the ATMS will include immediate location identification of areas where traffic bottlenecks occur due to accidents or other reasons and provision of information to motorists on that stretch immediately, meteorological systems, speed detection systems, mobile radio communication systems including base and repeater stations, vehicle mounted and hand held units and transmission towers in addition to CCTV units at strategic locations to ensure immediate access to information in emergencies. 

It will also have an ATTC (Automatic Traffic Controller cum Classifier) at various highway locations to identify and record vehicle types to ensure effective monitoring and data collection at ATMS Control Centre. 

This information will be used with other data to inform road users on current traffic conditions through use of Variable Message Signs and Mobile Apps. The collected information will be used for statistical analysis. The system will classify vehicle based on category. 

ATMS control units will be located in toll plazas with provisions to estimate travel time between destinations. Currently, estimates are being drawn up on the number of staff who need to be trained on various related modules in toll plazas.