No barriers, no stops: How India’s tolling system is changing

It’s 1.15pm on Wednesday at the Mundka toll plaza in Delhi on the newly opened greenfield Urban Extension Road-II. To the surprise of many drivers, the boom barriers across 16 toll lanes are raised. Vehicles slow down, expecting the barriers to fall for FASTag-based toll deduction. Instead, toll attendants wave them through without stopping. Within minutes, there isn’t a single vehicle waiting at any lane.
Most commuters felt they had a free drive across the toll plaza. But they soon got messages —the toll had been deducted from their FASTag wallet.