India launches first barrier-less toll system

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday launched India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system in Gujarat, marking a major step towards modernising the country’s highway infrastructure.

The advanced system has been introduced at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat–Bharuch stretch of NH-48. It enables seamless toll collection without vehicles needing to stop, using technologies such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and FASTag.

The MLFF system is expected to significantly reduce travel time, ease congestion on highways, improve fuel efficiency, and lower vehicular emissions. It also minimises human intervention, making toll operations more efficient and transparent.

Gadkari said the initiative aligns with global standards and represents a key milestone in the digitisation of India’s tolling ecosystem. He added that barrier-less tolling will enhance ease of living for commuters and boost ease of doing business by ensuring faster movement of goods and logistics.

Highlighting the broader vision, he said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build world-class, technology-driven national highways that are commuter-friendly and efficient.