The central government is considering changes to speed enforcement on India’s expressways, with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari calling for a 20% tolerance margin above prescribed speed limits. Under the proposed approach, motorists travelling at speeds up to 120 kmph on eligible expressways would not face automatic traffic challans, subject to the applicable road and vehicle regulations.
Gadkari issued the directive while addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) National Conference on ‘Highways of India’s Future: Smart, Safe and Sustainable’ on October 27, 2026. The move aims to make speed enforcement more practical by accounting for a tolerance margin when detecting and penalising speeding violations.
Under the proposed 20% tolerance approach, an expressway with a prescribed speed limit of 100 kmph would have an enforcement threshold of 120 kmph. Motorists travelling within this additional margin would not face automatic penalties, while those exceeding the threshold could attract challans under the applicable enforcement rules.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has indicated that automatic fines will not be imposed unless a vehicle exceeds the prescribed speed limit by more than 20%. The approach is intended to provide greater flexibility in speed monitoring while maintaining traffic regulation requirements.
However, the proposed tolerance should not be interpreted as a general revision of India’s expressway speed limits. The legally prescribed speed limit will continue to apply, and motorists are expected to follow road signs, traffic regulations and lane discipline requirements. The applicable speed restrictions may also vary depending on the road category and type of vehicle.
Drivers should therefore avoid treating 120 kmph as a universally permitted speed across all expressways. The actual enforcement provisions will depend on the relevant government instructions and regulations in force for individual road stretches and vehicle categories.
Gadkari Warns Contractors Over Highway Quality
Alongside the proposed changes to speed enforcement, Gadkari also highlighted the government’s focus on improving highway construction quality and maintenance standards. He warned that contractors and officials responsible for poor highway quality could face strict action, including blacklisting.
The minister emphasised the need for greater accountability in highway development, particularly as India continues to expand its expressway and national highway network. Construction quality, timely identification of defects and effective maintenance remain important aspects of infrastructure development.
To strengthen monitoring, the government has increased the use of Network Surveillance Vehicles to inspect highway conditions and identify defects. These vehicles help authorities monitor road surfaces and detect quality-related issues across highway stretches.
According to the minister, quality-related problems have declined by 30% since closer monitoring was introduced. The improvement has been attributed to increased surveillance and monitoring of highway infrastructure.
Focus on Road Safety and Infrastructure Quality
The proposed speed enforcement approach and stricter action against highway contractors reflect two parallel priorities for the road transport ministry: improving the practicality of traffic enforcement and maintaining construction standards across India’s highway network.
While the 20% tolerance margin could reduce automatic penalties for motorists travelling marginally above prescribed limits, compliance with posted speed restrictions and traffic safety rules remains necessary.
At the same time, the use of surveillance vehicles and potential penalties for contractors are expected to strengthen oversight of highway construction and maintenance. The government’s approach places emphasis on both road-user compliance and the quality of infrastructure being developed for the country’s expanding road network.
