India’s Free Flow Tolling System to Reduce Pollution and Carbon Emissons

India’s Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Mr Nitin Gadkari, today said that India is rapidly moving towards world-class highway infrastructure with the introduction of the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system, which will ensure seamless travel, reduce pollution, lower logistics costs, and improve operational efficiency across the country.

Mr Nitin Gadkari rolls out the first-of-its-kind barrier-less toll plaza at Mundka – Bakkarwala, UER-II (Urban Extension Road) in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Also present on the occasion were Ministers, the NHAI Chairman, and senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), NHAI, and the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL). 

The MLFF system introduces a barrierless, contactless tolling framework to ensure seamless vehicle movement through tolling points without stopping.

Mr Gadkari said that the MLFF system has been developed using advanced international-standard technology and required extensive consultations with technology providers and private stakeholders.

He said the Government remains committed to continuously upgrading highway technology while ensuring sustainable development and greater commuter convenience.

Highlighting the benefits of the new system, Mr Gadkari said that the barrier-less tolling mechanism will significantly reduce waiting time at toll plazas, resulting in substantial fuel savings and a smoother travel experience for commuters.

He noted that vehicles will no longer be required to stop at toll plazas, thereby improving traffic flow and reducing highway congestion.

Emphasising the economic advantages of the initiative, Mr Gadkari said that toll collection operations earlier incurred expenditure of nearly 15 per cent, which under the Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling system is expected to reduce to around 3-4 per cent.

He stated that the reduction in operational costs could result in annual savings of approximately ₹5,000-6,000 crore. He further observed that technology-driven reforms in toll collection have substantially increased highway revenues over the years.

The Minister said the MLFF system is expected to save nearly 250 crore litres of fuel annually and help reduce approximately 81,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, thereby contributing significantly to pollution reduction, particularly in Delhi-NCR.

Mr Gadkari also highlighted the Government’s focus on the concept of “waste to wealth” through innovative infrastructure practices. He said municipal waste generated in Delhi is being scientifically processed and utilised in highway construction projects such as the Dwarka Expressway and Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.

He further stated that bio-bitumen, developed from crop residue and waste materials, is increasingly being used in road construction to reduce dependence on imports and minimise environmental pollution.

Expressing concern over road safety, Mr Gadkari said that a large number of road accidents take place in the country every year and stressed the need for greater public awareness and responsible driving behaviour.

He added that advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based technologies integrated into the free flow tolling system would help improve monitoring and traffic management.

He said the system would provide commuters with zero waiting time, a smoother travel experience and reduced transportation costs.

The Minister also appealed to the media and citizens to support the initiative and raise awareness of the benefits of technology-driven highway reforms for public convenience, environmental protection, and national development.

The system integrates Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology with FASTag-based Electronic Toll Collection to facilitate automated user fee collection with minimal human intervention.

The implementation of the Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling system marks a major advancement in the development of digital National Highway infrastructure and will significantly improve travel efficiency for National Highway users.

By enabling uninterrupted vehicular movement, the system will help to improve travel time, enhance fuel efficiency and reduce vehicular emissions at the toll location.

To ensure a smooth experience, National Highway users will need to keep a sufficient balance in their FASTag accounts. In cases such as insufficient FASTag balance or an invalid or non-functional FASTag, users will be issued an Electronic Notice (E-Notice) for non-payment of the user fee. Such users will be required to pay the normal user fee within 72 hours of the E-Notice.

If non-compliance occurs after 72 hours, the user fee will be charged at twice the normal rate for the vehicle category. E-Notices can be accessed and paid through the designated portal.

Users can also raise grievances within 72 hours of the E-Notice’s issuance. Non-payment of E-Notices may result in blacklisting of FASTag and restriction of other vehicle-related services through the VAHAN platform.

Earlier this month, NHAI successfully launched an MLFF-based tolling system at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat–Bharuch section of NH-48 in Gujarat.

The Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling system will strengthen the tolling ecosystem by enhancing transparency, reducing operational costs associated with physical toll plazas, and improving overall efficiency in toll operations.

The initiative aligns with the Government’s vision of developing a technology-driven, efficient and user-friendly National Highway network across the country.