• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. India to implement barrier-free digital tolling system by early 2027.
  2. ANPR cameras and FASTags ensure seamless, no-stop highway travel.
  3. "One Tag" feature allows convenient bank portability for FASTag users.

Highway travel across India is set to become significantly faster as the government prepares to roll out a barrier-free, fully digital tolling system by February-March 2027. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said the new system will let motorists pass through toll points without stopping.

Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, Gadkari said, "With AI and free-flow tolling, India is moving from stopping at toll plazas to simply moving through them. The highway of tomorrow is intelligent, seamless and cashless."

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How The System Will Work?

The proposed tolling system will combine Automatic Number-Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras with FASTags to identify and track vehicles as they travel along tolled routes. This setup aims to eliminate remaining delays at toll plazas and boost overall fee collection efficiency. The minister stated that the free-flow tolling is expected to add Rs 10,000 crore annually to toll revenues.

About FASTag

The upcoming system builds upon the broad adoption of FASTag, which relies on radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to deduct toll charges automatically from linked accounts as vehicles pass through toll plazas.

"FASTag is one of the success stories... In 2014, we started this as a pilot project. Our objective for tolling was to make it seamless, transparent and efficient. In 2016, we officially launched it. In 2021, we made FASTag mandatory. And today, the results are before us. FASTag penetration at National Highway toll plazas is now more than 98 per cent. So far, more than 13 crore FASTags have been issued in the country," Gadkari said.

The technology has already reduced average wait times at toll plazas by 80 per cent to 90 per cent, cutting delays that earlier ranged from 12 to 30 minutes to just seconds.

ALSO READ: NHAI Extends Digital FASTag Local Pass Facility To 121 Toll Plazas; What Are Benefits And How To Apply

Introducing 'One Tag' Bank Portability

Alongside barrier-free tolling, the government is introducing "One Tag" to allow motorists to change their linked bank without obtaining a new FASTag. Previously, changing banks required buying a new FASTag and removing the old one from the vehicle.

"The introduction of One Tag will make FASTag more convenient by allowing users to switch banks while continuing with the same FASTag," the minister said, adding that it will work much like mobile number portability, allowing drivers to switch banks, keep their tag, and keep moving.

(With Inputs From Agencies)


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