India’s First Barrier-Free Toll Plaza in Gujarat Soon to be Operational
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken a big step towards modernising toll collection by signing an agreement to implement the country’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system. The new system will be introduced at the Choryasi Fee Plaza in Gujarat on NH-48, making it India’s first barrier-free toll plaza.
The agreement was signed between the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) and ICICI Bank in the presence of NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav and senior officials in New Delhi. Another agreement was also finalised for the Gharaunda Fee Plaza in Haryana on NH-44.
Under the MLFF system, vehicles will no longer need to stop at toll plazas. Instead, tolls will be collected automatically using FASTag and Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) through high-performance RFID readers and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. This system promises smoother traffic flow, reduced congestion, shorter travel times, and lower fuel consumption, while also cutting down emissions.
NHAI plans to introduce this barrier-free tolling system at around 25 National Highway plazas during the 2025-26 financial year. The process of identifying these plazas is already underway.
India’s national highway network has expanded significantly over the last decade, now covering 1.46 lakh km, up from 91,287 km in 2014. Officials believe the new MLFF system will not only make highways faster and more efficient but also help improve toll revenue collection across the country.
Calling the move a milestone, NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav said the adoption of MLFF will create a more transparent and user-friendly tolling system, paving the way for nationwide implementation in the future.
