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

Infrastructure Urban

09 Mar 2026

Flender Inaugurates Wind Gearbox Test Rig In Chennai

Chennai, 6 March 2026: Flender has inaugurated a 13.5 MW wind turbine gearbox test rig at its Walajabad facility near Chennai, marking the installation of the largest test rig of its kind in India. The facility was inaugurated on 5 March in the presence of Andreas Evertz, CEO, Flender Group; Lars Wiegemann, Vice President – Wind Gears; and Vinod Shetty, CEO, Flender India.The test rig has been developed to support testing and validation of wind turbine gearboxes, strengthening the company’s capabilities in the renewable energy sector. The commissioning was completed within three months thr..

Infrastructure Energy

09 Mar 2026

BMW Industries partners with IOCL for PNG supply at Bokaro plant

BMW Industries has entered into a strategic partnership with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) for the supply of Piped Natural Gas (PNG), reinforcing its commitment to adopting cleaner and more efficient energy sources for its operations.The agreement was signed at the Eastern Region Pipelines (ERPL) headquarters in Kolkata. The partnership is expected to support the company’s upcoming manufacturing facility in Bokaro by facilitating the use of natural gas as a primary energy source.According to the company, the adoption of PNG will help enhance operational efficiency while also contributing to ..

Real Estate

09 Mar 2026

Bombay Realty Secures RERA for Three ICC Tower in South Mumbai

Bombay Realty, the real estate arm of Bombay Dyeing and part of the Wadia Group, has received Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) certification for Three ICC – Wing A, the latest luxury residential tower at Island City Center in Mumbai’s Dadar.The RERA registration marks a key milestone in the development timeline and reinforces the company’s focus on regulatory transparency, timely project delivery, and high construction standards.Following the success of One ICC and Two ICC, the upcoming Three ICC tower represents the next phase of the Island City Center development. The project ai..