New Delhi, May 03: India’s first multi-lane free flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system recorded around 41,500 vehicles on its first day of operations at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat–Bharuch stretch of NH-48 in Gujarat, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The system, rolled out by the National Highways Authority of India, enables vehicles to pass through toll points without stopping using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and FASTag-based electronic toll collection.
Designed to ensure seamless traffic flow with minimal human intervention, the barrier-less framework is expected to reduce congestion, cut travel time, improve fuel efficiency, and lower vehicular emissions across national highways.
The launch was announced by Nitin Gadkari, who termed it a major milestone in the digitisation of India’s tolling ecosystem and the modernisation of highway infrastructure in line with global standards. He added that the system would enhance ease of living and facilitate faster movement of goods, supporting logistics efficiency.
The rollout follows the government’s transition to fully digital toll collection across national highways, with payments processed through FASTag and UPI from April 2026. FASTag penetration has already crossed 98%, significantly transforming toll operations.
NHAI has advised users to maintain sufficient FASTag balance, noting that vehicles with insufficient balance or invalid tags will receive an electronic notice and must clear dues within 72 hours, failing which double toll charges may apply.
The MLFF system forms part of the government’s broader push to build a more efficient, transparent, and commuter-friendly highway network.
