India to Eliminate Toll Booths Nationwide—Satellite-Based Toll Collection System to Launch Soon

April 16, 2025 . National Infrastructure Desk, New Delhi: In a landmark announcement that signals a digital revolution in Indian transport, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has revealed that physical toll plazas will soon be phased out across the country. The government plans to implement a new satellite-based toll collection system, making toll payments completely automatic and contactless.

No More Toll Plazas: A New Era in Road Travel

Speaking at a public event on April 14, Gadkari stated that the government will roll out its new toll policy within the next 15 days. Once implemented, toll plazas will be completely dismantled, ushering in an era of automated toll collection.

“I won’t go into much detail now, but I can assure you that toll booths will soon become a thing of the past. A new system based on satellite tracking will replace them,” said Gadkari.

How Will the New System Work?

According to reports, the upcoming system will leverage satellite and GPS-based vehicle tracking to identify a vehicle’s number plate and travel distance, and deduct toll fees automatically—all without the need to stop at a plaza.

Key Features of the New Toll Policy:

• Number plate scanning via satellite

• Automatic toll deduction linked to user accounts

• No human intervention or queues

• Seamless travel experience nationwide

The system is expected to be linked with FASTag accounts or bank/UPI platforms, ensuring direct and transparent deductions based on road usage.

Road Infrastructure to Surpass Global Standards

Gadkari also reiterated the government’s commitment to building world-class road networks. He said that India’s roads will surpass even those in the United States within the next two years.

Highlighting key infrastructure projects, he added that the Mumbai-Goa Highway is on track for completion by June 2025, which will drastically reduce travel time between the two coastal cities.

What This Means for Indian Commuters

This bold move is set to revolutionize highway travel in India. Travelers will benefit from:

• No toll delays or congestion

• Faster, safer travel experiences

• Greater transparency in toll charges

• Reduced fuel consumption due to non-stop journeys

Industry experts predict this will not only improve commuter convenience but also help reduce corruption and operational inefficiencies in toll collection.

What’s Next?

The Ministry is expected to release detailed guidelines and rollout plans by end of April 2025, starting with pilot routes on major expressways. The policy may eventually integrate with the DigiLocker ecosystem, vehicle RC, and Aadhaar-linked bank accounts for seamless toll deduction.