What is the technology being employed for electronic toll collection on highways? What are its advantages and limitations? What are the proposed changes that will make this process seamless? Would this transition carry any potential hazards?

Theme

T136 Transport connectivity: tolling, UDAN, inland waterways, urban transport

What UPSC asks in this theme

Questions ask the technology of electronic tolling and its future, UDAN's need and achievements, inland waterways, and the 'moving people' principle in urban transport.

What to cover

• FASTag (RFID) and GNSS-based tolling
• UDAN: regional connectivity, viability gap funding
• National Waterways Act 2016
• National Urban Transport Policy; metro and buses

Writing the answer

• Features → achievements → limitations

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 4 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.