Barrier-Free Tolling, Road Safety Bill Top Transport Agenda for 2026

31 Dec 2025 CW Team

According to officials, road crashes currently claim nearly 1.8 lakh lives every year in India, underscoring the need for stronger enforcement, safer road design and technology-driven interventions. The proposed Road Safety Bill is expected to bring a comprehensive legal framework focused on safer mobility, stricter compliance and accountability across stakeholders.

Alongside legislative reforms, the ministry is pushing for nationwide rollout of barrier-free tolling systems to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow on highways. The move is aimed at reducing congestion at toll plazas, cutting travel time, improving fuel efficiency and enhancing commuter convenience. Officials said advanced tolling technologies will replace physical barriers, enabling vehicles to pass toll points without stopping.

Infrastructure expansion will also remain a major focus area in 2026, with the ministry planning the inauguration of several marquee national highways and expressways. Among the key projects slated for completion is the 1,362-km Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, which is expected to be fully operational by November 2026. The Amritsar–Jamnagar highway is scheduled for completion by December 2026, strengthening connectivity across northern and western India.

Other major corridors expected to be inaugurated next year include the Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway by June 2026, the Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway by March 2026, the Indore–Hyderabad highway by May 2026, and the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway by January 2026.

Officials said the commissioning of these high-capacity corridors will significantly reduce travel time, improve logistics efficiency and enhance road safety by diverting traffic from congested urban routes. Together with barrier-free tolling and a stronger legal framework, the initiatives are expected to mark a decisive shift towards safer, faster and more efficient road transport in India.

News source: The Hindu Businessline

The implementation of seamless, barrier-free tolling across national highways and the passage of a new Road Safety Bill will be the top priorities of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2026, as the government intensifies efforts to curb road accidents and fatalities.According to officials, road crashes currently claim nearly 1.8 lakh lives every year in India, underscoring the need for stronger enforcement, safer road design and technology-driven interventions. The proposed Road Safety Bill is expected to bring a comprehensive legal framework focused on safer mobility, stricter compliance and accountability across stakeholders.Alongside legislative reforms, the ministry is pushing for nationwide rollout of barrier-free tolling systems to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow on highways. The move is aimed at reducing congestion at toll plazas, cutting travel time, improving fuel efficiency and enhancing commuter convenience. Officials said advanced tolling technologies will replace physical barriers, enabling vehicles to pass toll points without stopping.Infrastructure expansion will also remain a major focus area in 2026, with the ministry planning the inauguration of several marquee national highways and expressways. Among the key projects slated for completion is the 1,362-km Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, which is expected to be fully operational by November 2026. The Amritsar–Jamnagar highway is scheduled for completion by December 2026, strengthening connectivity across northern and western India.Other major corridors expected to be inaugurated next year include the Bengaluru–Chennai Expressway by June 2026, the Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway by March 2026, the Indore–Hyderabad highway by May 2026, and the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway by January 2026.Officials said the commissioning of these high-capacity corridors will significantly reduce travel time, improve logistics efficiency and enhance road safety by diverting traffic from congested urban routes. Together with barrier-free tolling and a stronger legal framework, the initiatives are expected to mark a decisive shift towards safer, faster and more efficient road transport in India.News source: The Hindu Businessline

Real Estate

28 Feb 2026

Casagrand Launches Keystone In Tiruppur

Casagrand has launched Casagrand Keystone, a gated residential development at Rakkiyapalayam, off Avinashi Road, in Tiruppur. Spread across 2.2 acres, the B+G+5 structure comprises 142 units of 2 and 3 BHK homes, supported by 48 indoor and outdoor amenities. The project is introduced at a starting price of Rs 5,199 per sq. ft. The development allocates 1.3 acres to open space, including a central park of about 24,500 sq. ft. A 6,800 sq. ft. clubhouse includes a multipurpose hall, mini theatre and indoor recreation facilities. Other amenities include a 5,100 sq. ft. swimming pool, poolside par..

Real Estate

28 Feb 2026

Premium homes account for half of India’s housing sales in 2025

Knight Frank India, in its latest report on India’s office and residential property market, has highlighted a significant shift in housing demand, with homes priced above Rs 10 million accounting for 50 per cent of total residential sales across the top eight cities in 2025. The findings underscore the growing dominance of premium housing in the country’s real estate landscape.Out of 348,247 residential units sold during the year, approximately 175,091 units were in the Rs 10 million-plus category, marking a 14 per cent year-on-year increase. The data reflects changing buyer preferences, w..

Infrastructure Energy

28 Feb 2026

Xbattery launches XB-5K energy storage system for homes, offices

Xbattery, a Hyderabad-based deep-tech company specialising in next-generation energy storage and battery management technologies, has introduced its flagship XB-5K, a scalable 5kWh energy storage system designed for homes and offices in India.The XB-5K is built on the company’s indigenously developed BharatBMS platform, described as India’s first universal high-voltage battery management system architecture aimed at reducing import dependence and improving after-sales service capabilities. The launch comes as India seeks to strengthen domestic manufacturing and address reliance on imported..