Will e-toll help in cutting queues on steel flyover?

Though it has been introduced on several highways across the country, the electronic toll collection system has still not become very popular among motorists

Vehicles won’t have to wait in queues if e-toll system is introduced | Express

BENGALURU: With the state government mulling a toll on the steel flyover to recover the cost of `1,791 crore, the question is whether the electronic toll collection system will become popular among motorists.
Experts say that paying toll physically at toll booths on the flyover will only add to traffic congestion. This would mean that the purpose of the flyover would be lost with the setting up of toll booths.

The state government has proposed to introduce Electronic Toll Collection System to cut waiting time at toll plazas on this stretch. But the e-toll system is not yet popular in India even though it was introduced at 240 toll plazas on major national highways across the country.  

Motorists who use the Cauvery Junction underpass or magic box complain that the traffic situation on the stretch has worsened and a steel flyover would definitely ease the congestion | nagaraja gadekal

Under the Electronic Toll Collection System, car windshields will be fitted with compatible tags that can be identified by card readers fitted at toll plazas, using radio frequency identification technology (RFID).  
According to the detailed project report for the steel flyover, existing peak hour traffic at Basaveshwara Circle and Mekhri Circle are 15,838 Passenger Car Unit (PCU) and 18,432 PCU, respectively.

Traffic experts say that waiting in line to pay toll will lead to further traffic snarls, particularly during peak hours.
“Each vehicle will spend at least 5-10 minutes in queue if the toll is manually operated. Traffic will get clogged at the entrance and exit of the flyover (three lanes each for two-way traffic). This will defeat the purpose of the flyover. Even if it’s an electronic toll system, motorists will have to slow down,” said an expert.
Advait Jani, program coordinator at Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, an NGO that works on transport issues, said, “Electronic Toll Collection System will work only if the government makes it mandatory for all motorists using the flyover or provides incentives for commuters with compatible tags over commuters who pay at the toll booths.”

Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO of Namma Bengaluru Foundation, said, “It’s illegal to have a toll plaza in city limits. It will create bottlenecks when vehicles slow down to pay toll. There is no clarity from the government.”
“Why should people pay toll when the government is spending tax payers’ money for this flyover despite protests?” asks traffic expert M N Sreehari.

When contacted, a senior government official said adequate awareness will be created among public to procure compatible tags to use the flyover. “It’s common in several foreign cities where they have introduced Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) to collect congestion tax from road users. This system will reduce queues at toll plazas on the flyover.”

He said the proposed 6.9km flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal flyover will reduce travel time from 30 minutes to seven minutes. “This will help motorists, especially those travelling to the airport. The road below the flyover will also be open for motorists who don’t want to pay toll,” he said.