Gadkari’s Key Update on Toll Plazas.. Here’s What It Is!

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that vehicles may no longer need to stop at toll plazas once the proposed barrier-free toll collection system is fully implemented. Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai, Gadkari said the system is expected to be completed across the country by March 2027. He added that FASTag has already significantly reduced waiting times at toll booths.

According to Gadkari, motorists previously spent an average of around 12 minutes waiting at toll plazas, with the delay sometimes reaching 30 minutes. FASTag has reduced this waiting time by nearly 80–90 percent. The government is currently running pilot projects for barrier-free tolling, with around 70 percent of toll booths expected to become barrier-free by December this year and full implementation targeted for March 2027. The proposed system will combine Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) with FASTag-based electronic toll collection, allowing tolls to be collected automatically without vehicles stopping. Gadkari said the system could also help the government generate additional revenue while saving fuel every year.