Union Roads Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has set a target for a fully digital, barrier-free tolling system across India's national highways by February-March 2027. The initiative, featuring a multi-lane free flow (MLFF) system, is designed to allow vehicles to pass through toll plazas without stopping, drastically reducing transit times.
Eliminating Waiting Times and Boosting Efficiency
Addressing the Global Fintech Fest, Minister Gadkari emphasized the government's commitment to further enhance efficiency at toll plazas. He noted that while the mandatory FASTag system, implemented in 2021, has already reduced average waiting times significantly by 80-90% from an earlier 12 minutes, the goal is to achieve zero waiting time.
With over 98% penetration at national highway toll plazas and more than 13 crore FASTags issued, the foundation for a seamless transition is already in place. The upcoming barrier-free system, leveraging automatic number recognition, is expected to allow vehicles to clear tolls in 10 seconds or less.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
Gadkari highlighted the substantial economic advantages of this advanced tolling system. Faster tolling is projected to generate an economic value of approximately Rs 68,500 crore annually by saving valuable time for commuters and commercial traffic. Additionally, the system is expected to result in an annual fuel saving of 56 crore litres, contributing to environmental benefits and reduced operational costs for transporters.
Beyond savings, the Minister anticipates a significant boost in toll revenues. The combined system of FASTag and automatic number recognition could add an estimated Rs 10,000 crore to annual toll collections, further strengthening infrastructure funding.
Leveraging India's Digital Foundation
The implementation of barrier-free tolling will integrate with India's robust digital infrastructure, including UPI payments, Aadhaar identity, and the Vahaan vehicle information system. Gadkari encouraged the fintech community to explore global best practices and offer recommendations to the government, seeing vast opportunities for innovation in the sector.
In a related development, Minister Gadkari also launched a new facility on Friday allowing existing vehicle owners to port their FASTags, linking them to a new bank account while retaining their original tag.