Indian Economy News

NHAI rolls out India's first stop-free toll system on NH-48 in Gujarat

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has rolled out India’s first stop-free tolling system based on Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) technology on the Surat-Bharuch stretch of NH-48 in Gujarat. The system has been deployed at the Chorayasi toll plaza and eliminates the need for vehicles to halt at toll booths, enabling seamless highway travel. Using advanced technologies such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and FASTag integration, toll charges are automatically deducted while vehicles continue moving at normal speeds. This marks a major shift from conventional toll plazas with physical barriers to a fully digital, contactless toll collection system aimed at improving efficiency and user convenience.

The MLFF system is expected to significantly reduce congestion, travel time and fuel consumption while lowering vehicular emissions. Vehicles can pass through the toll zone at highway speeds without stopping, ensuring uninterrupted traffic flow and minimal human intervention. On its first day of operation, around 41,500 vehicles reportedly crossed the MLFF toll point, highlighting strong adoption and operational readiness. The initiative is part of a broader government push to modernise highway infrastructure and transition towards barrier-less tolling across the country, with plans to expand the system to multiple toll plazas in the coming years. The project is also expected to generate substantial savings in fuel costs, estimated at Rs. 1,500 crore (US$ 162 million) annually, further strengthening its economic and environmental benefits.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.