India Plans to Remove Toll Plazas by 2026 as Nitin Gadkari Pushes Barrier-Free Highway Travel

India’s highway travel experience could soon undergo a major transformation, with the government planning to eliminate physical toll plazas across the country by the end of 2026. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said the Centre is preparing to introduce a fully automated toll collection system that allows vehicles to travel uninterrupted without stopping at toll booths.

Speaking at the Times Drive Auto Summit & Awards 2026, Gadkari explained that the new system will use advanced number plate recognition technology along with FASTag-linked digital payments to automatically deduct toll charges based on the actual distance travelled.

According to the minister, the technology has already been introduced at nearly 85 toll locations across the country as part of the transition toward barrier-free highway movement.

How the New Toll Collection System Will Work

The government plans to adopt the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling model, a system already used in several countries for seamless highway travel.

Under this setup, traditional toll booths and physical barriers will be replaced by overhead gantries equipped with:

• High-speed cameras
• Vehicle sensors
• FASTag scanners
• Automatic number plate recognition systems

As vehicles pass through the highway corridor, the system will instantly identify the vehicle and deduct the toll amount digitally from the linked bank account without requiring the driver to slow down or stop.

Gadkari stated that motorists could drive continuously at speeds of up to 80 kmph without interruptions caused by toll queues.

Distance-Based Toll Charges May Reduce Costs

The proposed tolling system will charge commuters based on the exact kilometres travelled rather than fixed toll booth charges. According to Gadkari, this could significantly lower costs for many highway users.

He indicated that toll charges on some stretches that currently cost between Rs 125 and Rs 150 may reduce to nearly Rs 15 under the distance-based calculation model.

The government believes the new approach will improve fairness for motorists while reducing congestion and unnecessary fuel consumption near toll points.

Why India Wants to Remove Toll Plazas

Although FASTag has already digitised toll payments across India, physical toll booths continue to create traffic bottlenecks, especially on busy expressways and freight corridors.

Officials say the existing system leads to:

• Long traffic queues
• Fuel wastage from stop-and-go driving
• Increased travel time
• Frequent disputes between toll staff and commuters

The new automated system is expected to make toll collection nearly invisible for drivers, similar to contactless metro card or electronic parking systems.

FASTag Will Still Be Mandatory

Even after toll plazas are removed, FASTag will continue to remain a key part of the system. Vehicles with inactive FASTags, insufficient balance, or unreadable details may receive digital notices asking owners to clear pending toll payments.

The government has also warned that unpaid MLFF toll charges may attract double penalties if dues are not cleared within 72 hours.

Major Highway Projects Also Underway

Alongside the toll reform plans, Gadkari confirmed that work is continuing on several major highway corridors connecting Delhi with cities such as:

• Jaipur
• Dehradun
• Amritsar
• Katra
• Srinagar
• Chennai
• Bengaluru

If implemented successfully, the new tolling model could significantly improve long-distance road travel in India by offering smoother traffic flow, faster logistics movement, and reduced travel delays for both private and commercial vehicles.