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? (Answer in 150 words)

The technology employed for electronic toll collection (ETC) on highways primarily includes Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems.

Advantages:

1. Time Efficiency: ETC reduces waiting times at toll plazas, speeding up vehicle movement and reducing congestion.
2. Cost-Effectiveness: Lower operational costs compared to manual toll collection, leading to potential savings for transport operators.
3. Data Collection: Provides valuable data on traffic patterns and revenue management.

Limitations:

1. Initial Investment: High costs for infrastructure setup and technology implementation.
2. Interoperability Issues: Different systems across states can complicate seamless travel.
3. Privacy Concerns: Use of RFID and ANPR raises issues regarding data security and privacy.

Proposed Changes:

1. Unified Payment Systems: Implementing a single, nationwide system for toll payments.
2. Mobile Applications: Allowing digital payments via apps for greater accessibility.

Potential Hazards:

Transitioning to ETC may lead to cybersecurity risks, including data breaches, and could also create issues for vehicles without ETC devices, potentially causing inequities in toll collection.