Nilekani may head panel for choosing toll technology

DAVOS: The government has decided to rope in IT experts, including UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani, to develop an India-specific technique for collection of tolls on highways.

"I have requested Nandan Nilekani to head a committee as its chairman to decide on the best tolling technology, most appropriate for India," Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath told.

Nilekani had left India's premier IT company Infosys to head the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), entrusted with the task of providing unique identification number to over one billion people in the country.

The country has embarked on a major drive to build highways, including toll roads, under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

Nath said institutions in the West, including Japan's Nomura, have shown interest in investing in India.

He added that talks were also on with Malaysian government for roping in construction companies for the road sector.

Sources said an MoU could be signed between the NHAI and a Malaysia consortium of road firms.

India has over 70,000 km of highways and proposes to significantly enhance the network by constructing 20 km of roads every day in the next five years. Currently, NHAI has been able to put under toll about 10,000 km of highways.