Nitin Gadkari has announced that India is planning to remove physical highway toll plazas by the end of 2026 and replace them with a fully automated distance-based toll collection system.
According to reports, the proposed system will allow vehicles to travel on highways without stopping at toll booths, enabling smoother movement at speeds of nearly 80 kmph. The toll amount will reportedly be calculated based on the exact distance travelled rather than fixed toll booth locations.
The new tolling mechanism is expected to combine existing FASTag infrastructure with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology and advanced digital monitoring systems.
Government officials believe the transition could significantly reduce congestion, waiting times, and fuel wastage caused by vehicles slowing down or stopping at toll plazas. Experts also suggest that distance-based billing may create a fairer “pay-for-use” highway model.
The proposal is part of India’s broader push to modernise road infrastructure, improve logistics efficiency, and support the rapid expansion of national highways and expressways under large-scale projects such as Bharatmala.
