Barrier-Free Tolling on Indian Highways by 2029

19 Aug 2025 CW Team

The proposed system will use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology combined with Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)-enabled FASTags to deduct tolls without requiring vehicles to stop. This technology reads vehicle number plates using high-performance cameras while the RFID handles automatic toll deductions. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) also plans to leverage artificial intelligence to make the system smarter and more efficient.

Instead of adopting a satellite-based system, the ministry has opted for a corridor- or stretch-based implementation model. A Request for Proposal (RFP) has already been floated for fee plazas at Gharonda, Choryasi, Nemili, UER-II, and Dwarka Expressway. Expansion to other locations will depend on the results of these pilot projects.

Despite FASTag adoption exceeding 5.54 crore active tags and daily toll revenues crossing ₹193 crore, the PAC highlighted persistent issues such as failed scans, pile-ups, and inconsistent enforcement. The report recommends integrating tolling systems with automated incident detection, improved surveillance, and GPS-enabled emergency response services to enhance safety and response times.

The ministry stated:

“The free-flow tolling system allows vehicles to cross toll plazas without stopping. The ANPR camera can read the vehicle number and the FASTag from a moving vehicle, allowing for toll collection without stopping.”

If toll payment fails due to insufficient FASTag balance, vehicle owners will be issued violation notices with a seven-day deadline. Delays beyond this period may attract double the toll fee.

The vision for 2029 is a seamless, cashless, and efficient highway travel experience, significantly reducing congestion and enhancing commuter convenience across India’s expressway network.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) plans to implement barrier-less tolling on all four-lane and wider expressways across India by 2029, according to a recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report submitted to Parliament. The initiative, currently in progress, aims to modernize the country’s toll collection infrastructure.The proposed system will use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology combined with Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)-enabled FASTags to deduct tolls without requiring vehicles to stop. This technology reads vehicle number plates using high-performance cameras while the RFID handles automatic toll deductions. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) also plans to leverage artificial intelligence to make the system smarter and more efficient.Instead of adopting a satellite-based system, the ministry has opted for a corridor- or stretch-based implementation model. A Request for Proposal (RFP) has already been floated for fee plazas at Gharonda, Choryasi, Nemili, UER-II, and Dwarka Expressway. Expansion to other locations will depend on the results of these pilot projects.Despite FASTag adoption exceeding 5.54 crore active tags and daily toll revenues crossing ₹193 crore, the PAC highlighted persistent issues such as failed scans, pile-ups, and inconsistent enforcement. The report recommends integrating tolling systems with automated incident detection, improved surveillance, and GPS-enabled emergency response services to enhance safety and response times.The ministry stated:“The free-flow tolling system allows vehicles to cross toll plazas without stopping. The ANPR camera can read the vehicle number and the FASTag from a moving vehicle, allowing for toll collection without stopping.”If toll payment fails due to insufficient FASTag balance, vehicle owners will be issued violation notices with a seven-day deadline. Delays beyond this period may attract double the toll fee.The vision for 2029 is a seamless, cashless, and efficient highway travel experience, significantly reducing congestion and enhancing commuter convenience across India’s expressway network.

Real Estate

02 Apr 2026

Indian real estate attracts USD 1.4 bn institutional investments in Q1 2026: Vestian

Institutional investments in India’s real estate sector touched USD 1.4 billion in Q1 2026, marking the highest first-quarter inflow since 2022, according to Vestian. While investments fell 62 per cent quarter-on-quarter due to an exceptionally high base in the previous quarter, they rose 74 per cent compared to the same period last year, reflecting sustained investor confidence despite rising geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges.Commercial real estate remained the key driver of investment activity during the quarter, accounting for 80 per cent of total inflows, sharply higher than 38 p..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Apr 2026

VECV crosses 1 lakh annual vehicle sales milestone in FY26

VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, has surpassed the 1 lakh annual sales mark in FY 2025–26, recording its highest-ever commercial vehicle sales performance. The company said it sold more than 100,000 vehicles during the year, marking a major milestone aligned with the original vision of the Volvo–Eicher joint venture.The strong performance was supported by demand across categories. Light and Medium Duty (LMD) trucks contributed 47,789 units, accounting for 46.1 per cent of total sales. Heavy Duty (HD) trucks recorded 26,867 units (25.9 pe..

Technology

02 Apr 2026

Rodic Digital & Advisory partners SatSure to deploy EO intelligence in public sector

Rodic Digital & Advisory (RDA), the strategic advisory and digital transformation arm of Rodic Consultants, has signed a strategic cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SatSure to jointly pursue opportunities in India’s public sector. The collaboration aims to integrate high-resolution Earth Observation (EO) data and geospatial AI into government workflows to strengthen monitoring, compliance, and operational decision-making across key sectors.The partnership combines SatSure’s Earth intelligence capabilities with RDA’s expertise in government digital transformation and ..