The Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), an entity promoted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has finalized an agreement with ICICI Bank. This agreement is set to implement the country’s first comprehensive Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system at the Choryasi Fee Plaza located on NH-48 in Gujarat. The contract was officially signed on Saturday, August 30, at the NHAI Headquarters in Delhi. This initiative aims to create a smoother, uninterrupted tolling experience for highway users. The implementation of MLFF will enable electronic toll collection via FASTag without requiring vehicles to stop. The Choryasi Fee Plaza in Gujarat is slated to become the first toll plaza in India to adopt this barrier-free system. Additionally, an agreement was also reached with ICICI Bank to introduce MLFF at the Gharaunda Fee Plaza in Haryana, specifically on NH-44. The NHAI also intends to introduce MLFF-based tolling at around 25 National Highway fee plazas within the current fiscal year, 2025-26, and is currently identifying suitable locations for this rollout. Santosh Kumar Yadav, the NHAI Chairman, stated that the agreement represents a major advancement in tolling modernization and will establish a more effective, transparent, and user-friendly tolling ecosystem, aligning with the vision of technology-driven enhancements in National Highway operations. This will potentially lead to nationwide adoption of the system.
**What is a Multi-Lane Free-Flow Tolling System?**
MLFF tolling is a system designed to eliminate the need for vehicles to stop at toll plazas. It utilizes high-performance RFID readers and ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras to read FASTag and Vehicle Registration Numbers (VRN). This eliminates congestion and reduces travel time, enhancing fuel efficiency and lowering vehicular emissions.