Barrier-free toll booths on national highways by March 2027: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari addresses the Global Fintech Fest 2026 session in Mumbai on September 11, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

Full implementation of the FASTag electronic toll collection system will contribute up to ₹ 25,000 crore annually to the government, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday (September 11, 2026).

The Minister for Road Transport and Highways has said that all toll booths on national highways will be wheelchair accessible by March 2027.

“Once the system is fully operational, then our department alone would provide a benefit of ₹20,000-25,000 crore annually to the Government of India through the use of FASTags,” Mr Gadkari said at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai.

FASTags have helped increase toll revenue by 10%, from around ₹7,000 to over ₹82,000 now.

The barrier-free toll booths, which are currently being piloted, will add another 10 per cent, or ₹7,000-8,000 crore, he said.

Besides, the operational cost of running the toll booth has come down to 2-3% from the earlier 12%, he said.

Mr. Gadkari said that more than 70% of the toll plazas will be wheelchair-accessible by the end of December this year and the number will rise to 100% by March next year.

Vehicle owners also benefit from time savings as the propensity to get stuck at stalls decreases, Mr. Gadkari said, pointing to studies that claim more than ₹5,250 crore has been saved annually in fuel costs alone.

Addressing technologists at the event, Mr. Gadkari urged the sector to come up with a solution to measure truck congestion.

Meanwhile, the Union minister said the trucking industry in the country lacks transparency and promised to work on it.

One of the operators has also been booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Mr. Gadkari added.

Published – 12 Sep 2026 09:04 IST