Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has announced a major change for India’s highways.
Within a year, physical toll booths will be eliminated, replaced by a fully electronic toll collection (ETC) system.
This will help end long queues and traffic jams at toll plazas.
The new system is already being tested at ten locations and will soon be rolled out nationwide.
Goodbye Toll Booths, Hello Seamless Travel
Gadkari said, “This toll system will end… Within a year, an electronic toll collection will be implemented across the country.”
The shift is expected to reduce wait times, fuel wastage, and congestion, especially on busy highway stretches.
Vehicles will no longer need to stop at toll plazas, making travel faster and smoother.
The Technology Behind the Change
The new system is powered by the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
FASTag at the Core
Every vehicle will have a FASTag, an RFID sticker on the windshield.
Toll charges will be automatically deducted from the linked bank account as the vehicle passes through a toll lane.
The upgraded system will also:
Eliminate physical toll plazas completely
Use GPS-based tolling and ANPR cameras
Charge vehicles based on distance travelled, not just toll points
This approach aligns India’s highways with global best practices.
Boosting Infrastructure and Travel Efficiency
Gadkari shared that 4,500 highway projects worth ₹10 lakh crore are underway, including expressways, multi-lane highways, and greenfield corridors.
Removing toll barriers will speed up freight movement, enhance regional connectivity, and make travel more efficient.
Benefits for Road Users:
No stoppages at toll plazas
Less congestion and waiting time
Lower fuel consumption
Efficient toll collection with minimal leakage
Future-ready integration with GPS-based tolling
Once fully implemented, India will join countries like the U.S., Singapore, and several European nations that rely entirely on electronic tolling.
