**Executive Summary**
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed over 5,100 women staff at toll plazas across National Highways and Expressways to promote gender inclusivity and improve service delivery. This initiative, effective as of March 6, 2026, aims to enhance user experience by fostering an efficient and empathetic environment. Specialized training will be provided to the deployed female staff.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Deployment of Women Staff:**
* Over 5,100 female staff have been deployed during day shifts to manage toll booths.
* This deployment covers more than 1,140 toll plazas on National Highways and Expressway networks.
* **Objectives of the Initiative:**
* To promote women's empowerment and inclusivity in toll operations.
* To significantly improve the National Highway user experience by fostering an efficient, empathetic, and user-friendly environment.
* To reduce the likelihood of disputes at toll booths.
* To generate employment opportunities for women, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions.
* To strengthen women's participation in the National Highway infrastructure sector.
* **Stakeholder Agreement:**
* The decision was made after deliberations with stakeholders including fee plaza operators and industry associations like NHBF, HOAI, and AIUCF.
* All toll operators have unanimously agreed to deploy women staff for user fee collection during day shifts.
* **Specialized Training:**
* NHAI will facilitate specialized training for deployed female staff, especially those from rural areas.
* Training modules will cover areas such as courteous behavior, handling emergency situations, basic safety protocols, and efficient toll plaza operations.
* **Monitoring and Compliance:**
* NHAI will closely monitor the implementation of this initiative to ensure compliance.
**Impact Analysis**
**Fee Plaza Operators and Key Industry Associations (NHBF, HOAI, AIUCF)**
* **Impact:** These stakeholders have unanimously agreed to the deployment of women staff and will be responsible for implementing this change in their operations, potentially affecting staffing and operational procedures.
* **Action Required:** Ensure the deployment of women staff during day shifts for user fee collection as per the NHAI directive.
**Deployed Female Staff (particularly from rural areas)**
* **Impact:** This initiative provides employment opportunities and enhances social empowerment. They will receive specialized training to perform their roles effectively.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the specialized training programs provided by NHAI and undertake operational duties at the toll plazas.
**National Highway Users/Commuters**
* **Impact:** May experience improved service delivery, including a more efficient, empathetic, and user-friendly environment at toll plazas, potentially with a reduced likelihood of disputes.
* **Action Required:** No direct action is required, but they will experience the changes in service delivery at toll plazas.
Key Entities Referenced
NHAI: The primary entity responsible for deploying women staff at toll plazas and facilitating their training.
National Highways Builder Federation (NHBF): An industry association that participated in the deliberations leading to this initiative.
Highway Operators Association of India (HOAI): An industry association that participated in the deliberations leading to this initiative.
All India User Fee Contractors Federation (AIUCF): An industry association that participated in the deliberations leading to this initiative.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
NHAI Deploys more than 5,100 Women Staff at
Toll Plazas on National Highways & Expressways
NHAI to facilitate specialized training to the deployed female
staff, particularly those from rural areas
Initiative aimed at promoting gender inclusivity and social
empowerment, as well as improving service delivery at the
Toll Plazas on National Highway
Posted On: 06 MAR 2026 3:51PM by PIB Delhi
To promote women’s empowerment and inclusivity in toll operations, NHAI has deployed over 5,100
female staff during day shifts to manage toll booths at over 1,140 toll plazas across the National
Highways and Expressway networks in the country. The objective of exclusively deploying women staff
in frontline operational roles is to significantly improve the National Highway user experience by
fostering an efficient, empathetic, and user-friendly environment for National Highway commuters, as
well as reduce the likelihood of disputes at the toll booths on National Highway fee plazas.
The decision was taken after deliberations and discussions with various stakeholders, including fee plaza
operators and key industry associations such as the National Highways Builder Federation (NHBF),
Highway Operators Association of India (HOAI), and the All India User Fee Contractors
Federation (AIUCF). All toll operators have unanimously agreed to deploy women staff during day shifts
for user fee collection at toll plazas. Over 5,100 female toll staff have already been deployed, and more
are expected to join in the near future.
NHAI will closely monitor the implementation of this initiative to ensure compliance. The initiative will
help generate employment opportunities for women, especially in rural and semi-urban regions, while
strengthening their participation in the National Highway infrastructure sector and generating
employment in these remote areas.
As part of this initiative, NHAI will also facilitate specialized training for the deployed female staff,
particularly those from rural areas. The training will focus on areas such as courteous behavior with
National Highway users, handling emergency situations, basic safety protocols, and maintaining
efficient toll plaza operations. This structured capacity-building effort will help enhance service quality
while ensuring a safe and professional working environment.
By encouraging greater involvement of women in frontline operational roles, NHAI aims to promote
gender inclusivity and social empowerment, alongside improving service delivery at National
Highway toll plazas across the country.
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