New Delhi, September 11: Highway travel in India could soon become smoother as the Centre moves towards eliminating the need for vehicles to stop at traditional toll booths. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has set an ambitious target for expanding barrier-free toll collection across the country.
The proposed Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system will allow vehicles to pass through tolling points without stopping. The system combines FASTag with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to identify vehicles and collect tolls digitally.
Under the plan, more than 100 additional toll plazas are expected to be brought under the barrier-free system by March 2027, following the rollout of initial projects on selected highways.
The government says the new technology will reduce congestion, waiting time and fuel consumption while making highway journeys more seamless. It is also expected to reduce the operational cost of toll collection and improve revenue efficiency.
India has already launched MLFF at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat–Bharuch section of NH-48 in Gujarat and at Mundka–Bakkarwala in Delhi. These projects are being used as models for wider deployment.
The shift marks a major change from conventional toll plazas, where vehicles have to slow down and pass through physical barriers. With barrier-free tolling, motorists could eventually drive through tolling points without stopping, while the toll amount is automatically processed through digital systems.
The move is part of the Centre's broader push to modernise India's highway network through technology-driven, cashless and contactless toll collection.
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