New Delhi: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that India is set to transition to a fully electronic, barrier-free tolling system on national highways within the next year. Addressing the Lok Sabha, the minister said the government is preparing to phase out the current toll booth mechanism entirely, aiming to make highway travel smoother and faster for commuters.
Gadkari revealed that the new electronic tolling technology has already been rolled out on a pilot basis at ten locations across the country. He emphasized that once fully implemented, vehicles will no longer need to halt at toll plazas for payments a major step toward reducing congestion, saving fuel, and improving road efficiency. “No one will stop you for toll collection anymore,” he said, underscoring the government’s commitment to seamless travel.
According to an official notification, the upcoming system will function through the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) framework developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Under this arrangement, toll charges will be deducted digitally as vehicles pass through designated points.
The technology at the heart of the system is an RFID-based device affixed to the vehicle’s windshield. This tag enables automatic deduction of tolls from the user’s linked account without requiring the vehicle to slow down or stop. The adoption of RFID-based tolling is expected to significantly cut waiting time at toll plazas and reduce operational costs.
With the nationwide rollout on the horizon, the government anticipates that India’s highway network will soon offer a more efficient, modern, and commuter-friendly experience.