Soon motorists can find easier and cheaper routes to their favourite destinations by road on their phones. Starting next month, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will roll out a new feature on its Rajmargyatra smartphone application to help motorists identify the highway route that attracts the lowest toll charges between any two destinations.
Toll-optimized route suggestions
A senior government official confirmed the update to PTI, adding that this enhancement aims to improve trip planning and cost-efficiency for regular highway users. Developed by the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), Rajmargyatra already provides detailed information on national highways and features an efficient grievance redressal system for commuters.
With the upcoming update, the app will also assist users in selecting the most economical route in terms of toll costs. Amrit Singha, Chief Product Officer, ITS, IHMCL, gave an example illustrating how the app could be used for a trip from Delhi to Lucknow. Commuters currently have three primary route options: via Yamuna Expressway, Ghaziabad-Aligarh-Kanpur, or Moradabad-Bareilly-Sitapur. The app will soon inform users which of these routes incurs the least toll expense.
Meanwhile, NHAI has also raised concerns over a rising number of traffic violations. As per data from Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), over 1.73 lakh violations were recorded between June 21 and 23, with more than one lakh incidents involving restricted vehicles such as two- and three-wheelers illegally using high-speed expressways like the Delhi-Gurgaon and Dwarka Expressway.
Bandikui–Jaipur spur to cut Delhi-Jaipur travel time
In a parallel development, NHAI is also set to open a 67-km access-controlled spur road from Bandikui to Jaipur, which is part of the larger Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project. Built at a cost of Rs 1,368 crore, this four-lane highway is expected to undergo traffic trials by mid-July, according to Pradeep Atri, NHAI’s regional officer in Rajasthan.
The new stretch is anticipated to significantly reduce the travel time between Delhi and Jaipur. Currently, the trip takes around four hours — approximately 2.5 hours to reach Bandikui via the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and another 1.5 hours to cover the remaining distance. With the Bandikui-Jaipur spur, this journey is expected to take just around three hours.
With inputs from PTI
