New Delhi: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said toll collections in India could rise sharply in the coming years as road construction
expands and vehicle numbers grow. At present, annual toll revenue stands at around Rs 80,000 to 85,000 crore, but the government expects this to increase to nearly Rs 3.5-4 trillion over time.
He also indicated that the government is working to modernise toll collection by moving to a barrier-free system. This new setup will rely on artificial intelligence and digital tracking to reduce delays and plug revenue leakages.
Shift to barrier-free tolling
The government plans to introduce a free-flow toll system by the end of 2026, where vehicles won’t need to stop at toll plazas, as charges will be collected automatically. According to Gadkari, the use of technology is already helping save around Rs 8,500 crore in toll collection costs.
Work on this transition has begun, with tenders awarded for 10 toll plazas and construction underway at six of them. In addition, tenders have been floated for 105 more locations. The aim is to create a faster and more efficient toll network while reducing congestion on highways.
Highway projects used to raise funds
The minister also spoke about the growing role of infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs) in funding highway projects. He said India could bring assets worth Rs 3.5 trillion under InvITs by 2026. The National Highways Authority of India has already monetised assets worth about Rs 1.5 trillion in the past four years.
At an event linked to the listing of Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust, Gadkari noted that while there is strong potential to monetise highway assets, spending needs to increase further. He suggested that with better execution, India could spend Rs 8-8.5 trillion annually on infrastructure, combining budgetary support and funds raised from the market.
Data from the Bharat InvITs Association shows that InvITs are growing fast. Their total assets were around Rs 7 trillion as of September 2025 and may reach Rs 21 trillion by 2030. These trusts have already paid over Rs 83,770 crore to investors so far, showing steady interest in this model.
