Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday inaugurated 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, describing it as a major advancement in the country’s highway infrastructure and toll collection system. Gadkari said the new system allows vehicles to pass through toll points without stopping, ensuring completely seamless movement. The technology integrates Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) with FASTag-based electronic toll collection to automatically identify vehicles and deduct toll charges.

He said the introduction of MLFF represents a significant milestone in the digital transformation of India’s tolling ecosystem and aligns with global best practices in road infrastructure management. The initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to modernise national highways using advanced, technology-driven solutions.

According to the minister, the system is expected to bring multiple benefits for commuters and transport operators. These include reduced travel time, smoother traffic flow, lower fuel consumption, decreased vehicular emissions, and reduced reliance on manual toll booth operations. By eliminating physical barriers at toll plazas, the system aims to make highway travel faster and more efficient.

Gadkari further stated that barrier-less tolling will improve “ease of living” for citizens by reducing delays and congestion on busy routes. It will also strengthen “ease of doing business” by enabling quicker and more reliable movement of goods and logistics across the country, which is crucial for economic growth and supply chain efficiency.

He also emphasised that this initiative reflects the government’s continued commitment to building modern, transparent, and globally competitive highway infrastructure. Earlier announcements from the ministry indicated that similar MLFF-based tolling systems would be gradually introduced across several national highways starting from December. The new framework combines ANPR technology powered by artificial intelligence with RFID-based FASTag systems, ensuring accurate and automatic toll collection without stopping vehicles. This marks a major shift from traditional toll plazas towards a fully automated and barrier-free highway network in India.