New Delhi: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced on Thursday that India will transition to a completely electronic toll collection system across all national highways within the next year, ending the traditional toll booths that require vehicles to stop.
Speaking during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Gadkari said that a pilot of the new barrier-less system has already been implemented at 10 locations, and the rollout will be expanded to cover the entire country within 12 months.
“This toll system will end. There will be no one to stop you in the name of toll. Within a year, an electronic toll collection will be implemented across the country,” the minister said, highlighting the government’s aim to make highway travel faster and more convenient.
Ongoing highway projects and modernization plans
Gadkari also updated Parliament on the scale of ongoing highway development, stating that around 4,500 highway projects worth nearly Rs 10 lakh crore are currently underway across India.
The new electronic toll infrastructure is based on the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). NETC is designed as a unified, interoperable platform to facilitate seamless digital toll payments on all national highways.
FASTag at the heart of the system
The system relies on FASTag, an RFID-based device affixed to vehicles’ windscreens. With FASTag, toll payments are automatically deducted from the linked bank account without requiring vehicles to stop at toll plazas, reducing congestion and travel time while improving efficiency in highway management.
The barrier-free toll system is part of the government’s broader initiative to modernize highway infrastructure, enhance road safety, and provide a smoother driving experience for commuters across the country.
