# India highway tolling upgrades and infrastructure projects > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/india-highway-expansion-projects > Updated: 2026-08-21T00:25:48.000Z. Sources: 32. Developments: 14. In late May 2026, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) issued tenders for extensive highway projects across several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Assam, and Himachal Pradesh. By early June, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved multi-billion-rupee upgrades in Bihar, Odisha, and Telangana, introducing four-lane standards and hybrid-annuity financing. In mid-June, NHAI announced signal-free corridors around Delhi and introduced technology-driven guidelines for mechanised highway maintenance to improve storm-water management and pothole repair. NHAI also launched an IIT-backed bridge design review programme to ensure structural quality and expanded monsoon-season safety monitoring in Himachal Pradesh. In July, the agency rolled out Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF), barrier-free tolling on the Delhi-Jaipur stretch of NH-48, using ANPR and FASTag technology. However, a viral video of potholes on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway led to senior-official suspensions and emergency works. Subsequent toll adjustments occurred throughout July, including hikes in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Karnataka, as well as a 5% rise on the Vadodara-Bharuch segment. To mitigate costs, NHAI issued revised directives under the amended National Highway Fee Rules on 25 July, which could reduce tolls by up to 40% by using more favorable calculation formulas for infrastructure like bridges and tunnels. To support local commuters, NHAI launched a digital Local Toll Pass via the RajmargYatra app. Initially piloted at the Mundka-Bakkarwala plaza, the program was expanded by 21 August 2026 to 121 toll plazas, offering residents within 20 km a monthly pass for non-commercial vehicles at a fixed cost of ₹350. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-21: NHAI expands digital local toll pass to 121 plazas NHAI has expanded its digital local pass to 121 toll plazas in India. Residents within 20 km can now apply for a Rs 350 monthly pass for non-commercial vehicles via the Rajmargyatra app. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nhai-expands-digital-local-toll-pass-to-121-plazas ### 2026-08-01: India's Delhi‑Jaipur Highway Gets Barrier‑Free Tolling System India's NHAI has installed a Multi‑Lane Free Flow tolling system on the Delhi‑Jaipur stretch of NH‑48, enabling barrier‑free travel, reducing wait times, fuel use and emissions, with FASTag and ANPR technology. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-delhijaipur-highway-gets-barrierfree-tolling-system ### 2026-07-25: India's NHAI Revises Toll Calculation, Cuts Fees up to 40% NHAI introduced a new toll formula—choosing the lower of two calculations—to cut Indian highway tolls by up to 40%, replacing the old 10‑times rule for bridges and tunnels. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-nhai-revises-toll-calculation-cuts-fees-up-to-40 ### 2026-07-23: NHAI raises toll rates on Karnataka highways India's NHAI has increased tolls on the Bengaluru‑Chennai Expressway, Bengaluru‑Nelamangala highway and Mulbagal‑Andhra stretch in Karnataka, with new rates lasting until March 31 2027 and discounts for return‑ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nhai-raises-toll-rates-on-karnataka-highways ### 2026-07-21: India raises Vadodara‑Bharuch Expressway tolls by about 5% on July 21 NHAI raised tolls by about 5% on the Vadodara‑Bharuch stretch of the Delhi‑Mumbai Expressway from 21 July 2026, increasing fees for cars, buses, trucks and other vehicles at four toll plazas. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-nhai-raises-tolls-on-major-highways-in-gujarat-and-rajasthan ### 2026-07-20: India's NHAI launches digital local toll pass via RajmargYatra app NHAI’s RajmargYatra app now lets residents within 20 km of a toll plaza obtain a digital local pass for unlimited monthly travel, cutting queues and paperwork. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-nhai-launches-digital-local-toll-pass-via-rajmargyatra-app ### 2026-07-15: NHAI raises tolls on major Punjab‑Haryana highway plazas NHAI raised tolls at over 50 Punjab‑Haryana plazas on July 15, adding Rs 5‑10 for private vehicles and higher fees for buses and trucks, affecting commuters on major routes. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nhai-raises-tolls-on-major-punjabharyana-highway-plazas ### 2026-07-02: Delhi-Dehradun Expressway potholes spur NHAI suspensions Potholes on the newly opened Delhi‑Dehradun Expressway led NHAI to suspend senior officials and issue notices after blaming heavy rain and incomplete drainage, sparking political criticism. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/delhi-dehradun-expressway-potholes-spur-nhai-suspensions ### 2026-07-01: India's NHAI launches barrier‑free tolling on Delhi‑Jaipur highway India's NHAI rolled out barrier‑free Multi‑Lane Free Flow tolling on the Delhi‑Jaipur NH‑48, using ANPR and FASTag to eliminate stops, improve traffic flow and cut emissions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-nhai-launches-barrierfree-tolling-on-delhijaipur-highway ### 2026-06-30: NHAI launches IIT-backed bridge design review and Himachal monsoon safety monitoring NHAI will enlist IITs to independently review major bridge designs and has bolstered monsoon safety measures on vulnerable Himachal highway sections. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nhai-launches-iit-backed-bridge-design-review-and-himachal-monsoon-safety-monitoring ### 2026-06-10: India approves Rs 1.23 trillion housing project in Andhra Pradesh and Rs 83 billion coastal highway in Odisha India's cabinet approved a Rs 1.235 cr housing campus in Amaravati and a Rs 83 bn, 160‑km coastal highway in Odisha, both aiming to boost housing, connectivity and jobs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/india-approves-rs-123-trillion-housing-project-in-andhra-pradesh-and-rs-83-billion-coastal-highway-i ### 2026-06-09: India's NHAI launches signal‑free corridors and mechanised highway maintenance NHAI will make three Delhi‑area highways signal‑free and has mandated mechanised drain cleaning and automated pothole repair to improve road quality and reduce congestion. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-nhai-launches-signalfree-corridors-and-mechanised-highway-maintenance ### 2026-06-03: India Cabinet approves multi‑billion‑rupee highway upgrades across Bihar, Odisha and Telangana India's cabinet approved three highway upgrades: Bihar's 143 km upgrade (Rs 3,936 cr), Odisha's 160 km coastal highway (Rs 8,301 cr), and Telangana's 191 km NH widening (Rs 7,597 cr), enhancing regional travel, 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/india-approves-rs-8300-crore-coastal-highway-linking-rameshwar-and-paradeep-in-odisha ### 2026-05-29: India's NHAI announces extensive highway construction projects India's NHAI rolled out several multi‑billion‑rupee highway projects across eight states and began widening NH‑44 near Nallampalli, Tamil Nadu to reduce congestion. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-nhai-announces-extensive-highway-construction-projects --- Cite as: India highway tolling upgrades and infrastructure projects. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/india-highway-expansion-projects