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Official Google Blog: Congratulations to Amit Singhal on his election to...: This morning, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) announced the election of 66 new members, including our very own Amit Singhal, Google...

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on pilot basis to roll out Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system through RFID (Radio frequency identification technology) mode.

BANGALORE, FEB. 2: 

"NHAI will introduce this new system between New Delhi and Panipat sections of National Highway (NH) 1. The system will initially replace the current cash payment method. Based on the feed back, it will be rolled out nationally", said Mr C. Kandasamy, Director General (RD) and SS, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, speaking at a FKCCI seminar on 'Special emphasis on greenfield expressways'.

"Currently NHAI has roped in banks like SBI, ICICI and few others for selling on board units (device fixed to the vehicles) and for toll collection," he added.

The RFID technology consists of a device that contains an identification number and a reader which works as a scanner that triggers the device to broadcast its identification number.

This number usually acts as an input to further data processing. The RFID is designed to enable readers to capture data on device and transmit it to computer system without needing a person to be involved.

Interoperability will be tested on the New Delhi-Panipat section of the highway. On completion of the tests, the ETC system will be rolled out pan-India from next year and will also create facility for credit card payments, said Mr Kandasamy.

Mr Kandasamy further said "the ETC system will increase user convenience by saving on fuel and reducing commuting time."

A committee on electronic toll collection headed by the UIDAI Chairman, Mr Nandan Nilekani, recently recommended using the RFID technology for improving efficiencies in toll collection.

BANGALORE EXPERIENCE

According to Mr R.K. Gupta, General Manager - Technical (Project Director), National Highways Authority of India, "We have implemented ETC system on elevated road connecting Bangalore and Electronic City on Hosur road."

"At present the response is poor and we are talking to the IT companies in Electronic City to popularise ETC system to reduce inconvenience to their employees," he added.

NHAI is also planning to introduce ETC system to Bellary road (NH7) connecting Bangalore city and Bangalore International Airport.

Source: The Hindu

SC quashes 122 licences of 2G spectrum scam: Justices Singhvi and Ganguly

NEW DELHI: In a major setback for the government, the Supreme Court on Thursday quashed all 122 spectrum licences granted after January 2008. 

The apex court left it open for the trial court to decide whether home minister P Chidambaramneeds to probed in the 2G scam. 

The SC said that there was no need for SIT to monitor the 2G scam probe. 

The SC verdicts came on Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy's petition seeking a CBI probe into the alleged role of home minister P Chidambaram in the spectrum scam, and on two pleas by lawyer Prashant Bhushan seeking cancellation of 2G licences and setting up of an SIT to monitor probe into the scam. 

Swamy has demanded a CBI probe into the role of Chidambaram with regard to the 2G scam. The Janata Party chief, who is the petitioner in the 2G case, has alleged that Chidambaram, then the finance minister, could have prevented jailed former telecom minister A Raja from giving away spectrum at throwaway prices to select companies, but chose not to do so. 

Swamy had won a success in the court on Tuesday when Justices Singhvi and Ganguly upheld his right to seek the prosecution of Raja for the 2G scam and indicted the PMO for delaying prosecution of the sacked telecom minister.

Source: TOI with Ref Sources.