NHAI plans to introduce MLFF-based tolling at around 25 national highway fee plazas this financial year, with site identification currently underway.
In a major step towards modernising India’s highway infrastructure, the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL)—a subsidiary of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)—has signed an agreement with ICICI Bank to implement the country’s first comprehensive multi-lane free flow (MLFF) tolling system in Gujarat.
The agreement was formalised in the presence of Santosh Kumar Yadav, Chairman, NHAI, along with senior officials at the NHAI headquarters in New Delhi.
The initiative marks a significant shift towards barrier-free tolling, enabling seamless electronic toll collection through FASTag. The first implementation will take place at Choryasi Fee Plaza on NH-48 in Gujarat, which will become India’s first fully barrier-free toll plaza.
Additionally, a parallel agreement has been signed for the rollout of MLFF at Gharaunda Fee Plaza on NH-44 in Haryana. NHAI plans to introduce MLFF-based tolling at approximately 25 national highway fee plazas during the current financial year, with the identification process for suitable locations currently underway.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Yadav described the MLFF initiative as a milestone in the evolution of India’s tolling ecosystem.
“By leveraging technology, it will establish the foundation for a more efficient, transparent, and user-friendly tolling system, aligned with our vision of technology-driven transformation in national highway operations. It will pave the way for nationwide adoption.”
MLFF is a barrier-free tolling system that facilitates automatic transactions by reading FASTag and vehicle registration numbers (VRNs) using high-performance RFID readers and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. Vehicles pass through toll plazas without stopping, reducing congestion and travel time, while improving fuel efficiency and lowering emissions.
The implementation of MLFF is expected to enhance toll revenue collection and contribute to the creation of a smarter, faster, and more efficient national highway network across India.