Save Time, Save Fuel: National Highway Toll Plazas to Go Barrier Free by March 2027

India plans to make all national highway toll plazas barrier free by March 2027, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said. The system will combine FASTag with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology.

The move aims to reduce waiting at toll booths and improve electronic toll collection across the country. More than 70% of toll plazas are expected to become barrier free by December 2026. The government expects the complete rollout to deliver annual benefits of Rs 20,000-25,000 crore.

Barrier Free Toll Plazas by March 2027

The government is moving towards Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling across national highways. Under this system, vehicles will not need to stop at conventional toll barriers.

FASTag will handle electronic payments, while ANPR cameras will identify vehicles passing through tolling zones. MLFF tolling was introduced at a Mumbai toll plaza in May 2026.

Gadkari said the government wants more than 70% of toll plazas covered by December 2026. Coverage is targeted to reach 100% by March 2027.

How Could Drivers Benefit?

The barrier free tolling system will apply to petrol cars, diesel cars and electric cars using national highways. Since vehicles will not need to stop at traditional toll barriers, all three types of cars could benefit from reduced waiting and less idling. Gadkari said vehicles previously spent around 12 minutes waiting at toll plazas.

The government expects barrier free tolling to reduce stoppages and lower fuel consumption during highway journeys.

According to studies cited by Gadkari, motorists could save more than Rs 5,250 crore annually in fuel costs. Lower waiting times could also make long distance highway travel more predictable.

FASTag Collections Rise by Rs 7,000 Crore

FASTag adoption has already increased toll collections by around 10%, according to Gadkari. Total toll revenue has crossed Rs 82,000 crore.

National Highway toll plazas now have FASTag penetration above 98%, and around 13 crore FASTags have been issued across India.

The barrier-free system could add another Rs 7,000-8,000 crore in annual toll collections. Toll booth operating costs have also fallen from around 12% to 2-3%.

OneTag Makes FASTag Transfer Easier 

The government has also launched OneTag, a FASTag portability facility. It allows vehicle owners to link an existing FASTag with a new bank account.

The facility works through the Rajmarg Yatra app. Earlier, changing the issuing bank required motorists to obtain a new FASTag.

For highway users, the upcoming system means fewer stops, less idling and potentially lower fuel costs. However, motorists will still need a valid FASTag for electronic toll payments.

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