nhai-deploys-5-100-women-staff-across-1-140-nh-toll-plazas

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed more than 5,100 women staff during day shifts to manage toll booths at over 1,140 toll plazas across the national highways and expressway network, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said on Friday.

The initiative aims to promote women’s empowerment and gender inclusivity in toll operations while improving service delivery at highway toll plazas across the country.

According to the ministry, encouraging greater participation of women in frontline operational roles is expected to strengthen social empowerment alongside enhancing efficiency at user fee collection points.

The decision to deploy women staff was taken after deliberations with various stakeholders, including fee plaza operators and key industry bodies such as the National Highways Builder Federation (NHBF), the Highway Operators Association of India (HOAI), and the All India User Fee Contractors Federation (AIUCF).

Also read: Highway toll plazas likely to go cashless from April 1

“All toll operators have unanimously agreed to deploy women staff during day shifts for user fee collection at toll plazas,” the ministry said in a statement.

Officials said that over 5,100 women employees have already been deployed across toll plazas and more are expected to join in the coming months as the initiative expands.

As part of the programme, NHAI will also facilitate specialised training for the women staff, particularly those coming from rural areas.

The training will focus on areas such as courteous behaviour with national highway users, handling emergency situations, following basic safety protocols, and maintaining efficient toll plaza operations.

Officials said the structured capacity-building effort is aimed at ensuring a safe and professional working environment while improving service quality for highway users.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the highways authority to increase women’s participation in infrastructure and transport-related services, sectors that have traditionally seen limited female representation in operational roles.

By bringing more women into toll operations, the authority hopes to promote gender diversity while maintaining smooth functioning at toll plazas across the expanding national highway network.