NHAI to Shift All Toll Plazas to Cashless Collection from April

25 Mar 2026 CW Team

Under the proposal, toll plazas would adopt interoperable electronic systems and point of sale acceptance for cards and mobile payments where necessary, with emphasis on automated tag based passage. Operators would be expected to upgrade equipment and to integrate with central clearing systems to ensure interoperability and to reduce disputes. The authority envisages phased enforcement and coordination with banks and payment service providers to manage the transition. Testing and pilot runs are anticipated to verify system readiness before full enforcement.

Officials framed the change as intended to reduce congestion and dwell times at booths, to enhance transparency in receipts and to lower operational risks associated with cash handling. Motorists would be encouraged to obtain and maintain electronic tags and to ensure linked accounts have sufficient balances. The proposal anticipates monitoring traffic flow and revenue patterns to assess effectiveness. Data from the roll out would be used to refine operational protocols and customer guidance.

Stakeholders noted that roadside assistance and contingency measures would be necessary to handle exceptions during the initial phase and that clear communication would be critical to minimise disruption. Toll contractors would need to train staff and to adapt customer support to resolve payment and reconciliation issues. The authority is expected to finalise implementation guidelines ahead of the effective date. Regulatory clarity and support from financial partners are cited as prerequisites for a smooth shift.

The National Highways Authority of India has proposed a complete transition to cashless toll collection at 1,150 plazas from April one. The proposal calls for electronic payment modes to be the exclusive means of toll payment at each plaza, eliminating routine cash transactions. The move is presented as a policy measure to modernise toll operations and to streamline revenue collection. The proposal indicates a timeline and sets compliance expectations for operators. Under the proposal, toll plazas would adopt interoperable electronic systems and point of sale acceptance for cards and mobile payments where necessary, with emphasis on automated tag based passage. Operators would be expected to upgrade equipment and to integrate with central clearing systems to ensure interoperability and to reduce disputes. The authority envisages phased enforcement and coordination with banks and payment service providers to manage the transition. Testing and pilot runs are anticipated to verify system readiness before full enforcement. Officials framed the change as intended to reduce congestion and dwell times at booths, to enhance transparency in receipts and to lower operational risks associated with cash handling. Motorists would be encouraged to obtain and maintain electronic tags and to ensure linked accounts have sufficient balances. The proposal anticipates monitoring traffic flow and revenue patterns to assess effectiveness. Data from the roll out would be used to refine operational protocols and customer guidance. Stakeholders noted that roadside assistance and contingency measures would be necessary to handle exceptions during the initial phase and that clear communication would be critical to minimise disruption. Toll contractors would need to train staff and to adapt customer support to resolve payment and reconciliation issues. The authority is expected to finalise implementation guidelines ahead of the effective date. Regulatory clarity and support from financial partners are cited as prerequisites for a smooth shift.

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