New Delhi, May 1: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced the launch of India’s first Multi‑Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier‑less tolling system at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat–Bharuch section of NH‑48 in Gujarat. The state‑of‑the‑art system allows seamless toll collection without vehicles stopping, marking a significant step towards modernising India’s highway infrastructure.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the MLFF system uses advanced technologies such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and FASTag to collect tolls while vehicles remain in motion. This innovation is expected to reduce travel time, decongest highways, improve fuel efficiency, lower vehicular emissions, and minimise human intervention in toll operations.

“The introduction of MLFF marks a major milestone in the digitisation of India’s tolling ecosystem and the modernisation of National Highway infrastructure in line with global standards,” the ministry said in a statement. Gadkari emphasised that barrier‑less tolling will enhance ‘Ease of Living’ for citizens and promote ‘Ease of Doing Business’ by enabling faster, more efficient movement of goods and logistics across the country.

The initiative reflects the government’s commitment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to build world‑class, technology‑driven National Highway infrastructure that is efficient, transparent, and commuter‑friendly. Gadkari noted that the system will not only benefit commuters but also strengthen India’s logistics sector by reducing delays and costs.

The Union government has already implemented digital‑only toll collection at all National Highway fee plazas across the country. Since April 10, all user fee payments at highway toll plazas are being processed exclusively through digital modes such as FASTag and Unified Payments Interface (UPI). With more than 98 per cent penetration, FASTag has significantly transformed toll collection practices in India.

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The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has directed all FASTag issuer banks to immediately validate Vehicle Registration Numbers (VRNs) linked with FASTags issued by them, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in toll collection.

With the launch of India’s first barrier‑less tolling system, the country has taken a decisive step towards adopting global best practices in highway management, paving the way for smoother, faster, and greener travel experiences for millions of commuters.