{
  "id": 7495842,
  "title": "Delhi to get 9 barrier free tolling plazas by Oct",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/delhi-to-get-9-barrier-free-tolling-plazas-by-oct",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-15T06:54:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/roadways/entry-into-delhi-to-get-easier-as-barrier-free-tolling-starts-at-9-highway-points-from-next-month/articleshow/134254220.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Starting October, 9 barrier-free tolling plazas will open across Delhi, eliminating the need for drivers to navigate toll barriers at major highway entry points. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi plans to install a multi-lane free-flow tolling system in these locations by month's end, aiming to alleviate the frequent long queues at busy toll stops. The chosen sites include the DND Flyway, Rajokri, Kundli, Badarpur, and Ghazipur, among others.\n\nHowever, the October deadline hinges on obtaining a no-objection certificate from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The MCD's current uncertainty stems from the pending clearance, despite a joint survey with NHAI officials conducted last week to assess the feasibility of the project at the nine selected sites.\n\nUnder the new system, toll payments will remain unchanged; they will simply transition from physical toll barriers to a barrier-free arrangement. The contractor responsible for toll collection, Sahakar Global, will bear the full expense of implementing the new infrastructure, estimated to reach around ₹200 crore. In return, MCD anticipates annual revenue of approximately ₹964 crore from the toll collection contract, covering all 154 plazas under its jurisdiction.\n\nSome of the chosen sites, like Ghazipur, will face significant challenges in adapting to the new system. Situated on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, this plaza handles a large volume of vehicles entering Delhi from neighboring states and frequently experiences congestion, making the installation of gantries and other equipment within the tight timeline particularly difficult.\n\nDelhi's initiative aligns with a broader national plan led by the central government. Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari revealed India's objective to make all toll booths on national highways barrier-free by March 2027. This move could generate an estimated annual benefit of ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 crore through FASTag-based collection. Gadkari highlighted that FASTag adoption has already increased toll collections nationwide by around 10%, adding nearly ₹7,000 crore and surpassing total toll revenue of ₹82,000 crore. Over 70% of toll booths are projected to be barrier-free by December, with full coverage anticipated by March 2027. FASTag penetration at national highway toll plazas has already surpassed 98%, with approximately 13 crore FASTags issued to date.\n\nThe barrier-free system relies on combining FASTag with automatic number plate recognition technology, replacing the need for physical boom barriers. This shift has already reduced waiting times at toll booths, which previously averaged around 12 minutes per vehicle, and has led to fuel savings of over ₹5,250 crore annually, according to studies.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}