India, Aug. 25 -- On August 15, 2025, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his twelfth speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) unveiled an annual "toll pass." Indians can now use existing Fastag accounts to buy an annual pass for Rs 3,000, which will be valid for 200 toll payments on national highways and expressways. More than half a million passes were sold in the first few days. Many gave kudos to Nitin Gadkari, who handles the relevant ministry, for his infrastructure push.

But every silver lining has a cloud behind it. On August 18, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court came down with a ton of bricks on the NHAI. To summarise, there is a national highway stretch in Thrissur d...