Infrared and Global positioning system may soon be the answer to the traffic woes and perhaps reduce the now congested and polluted streets of Mumbai.

Taking a cue from London, which has put in place Congestion Charging Project, the Mahrashtra government is exploring the feasibility of reducing traffic on thoroughfares in Mumbai by introducing a mechanism of automatic toll tax collection.

IT company Mastek has been commissioned to evolve a toll system that would make it mandatory for motorists to pay a premium for using the roads during busy hours.

Under the system whose technology is used widely in US and Western Europe, drivers would have to pay by making an electronic transaction through a vehicle road communication-based on infrared and Global Positioning System.

"Money would be deducted automatically from the reader or card similar to a prepaid SIM card mounted on the vehicle as it crosses the transponder fixed on the road," says Dinesh Maheshwary, chief capability officer, Mastek.

The automatic toll collection system, is hoped to encourage people to use other forms of transport like trams and car pools and thus reduce congestion and pollution on Mumbai's roads.

"This is the first step. It will make certain heavy traffic routes smoother if we charge a levy on certain elevated roads. It may also discourage additional car trips," says Sanjay Ubale, secretary, Special Projects, Maharashtra.

"We are proposing an automated toll collection system based on the usage of vehicles," says Maheshwary.

"With burgeoning traffic we need different kinds of technologies to reach the standards of the 21st century level. The old method of collecting toll in booths set up for the purpose, witnessed long queues and traffic snarl ups," he adds.

Mumbai-based Mastek has previously designed the London Congestion Charging project, under which all drivers wishing to enter London would have to pay a daily fee in advance or else cough up a hefty amount as penalty.

Closed circuit televisions together with a license plate recognition system will capture vehicle registration numbers of defaulters who will be fined later.

But Maheshwary points out that mere installation of the technology would not solve the traffic congestion and allied problems.

"Setting up automatic collection centres and equipping them with transponders etc is not a solution in itself. The question is how do you follow it up? If there is any violator how do you determine that it was intentional or done by mistake?," says Maheshwary.