**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari launched the first-of-its-kind barrier-less Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system at Mundka–Bakkarwala, NCR, on May 11, 2026. The system aims to eliminate traffic congestion and reduce logistics costs by allowing vehicles to pass toll points without stopping. Commuters are required to maintain sufficient FASTag balances, with a 72-hour window provided to settle Electronic Notices (E-Notices) before penalties or blacklisting occur.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**System Features and Technology**
* **Barrier-less Movement:** The MLFF system provides a contactless framework that ensures seamless vehicle movement without the need to stop at toll plazas.
* **Technological Integration:** It combines Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) with FASTag-based Electronic Toll Collection and advanced AI-based monitoring.
* **Operational Rollout:** Following a successful launch in Gujarat (NH-48), the system is being expanded to the Urban Extension Road (UER-II) in the National Capital Region.
**Economic and Environmental Impact**
* **Cost Efficiency:** Toll collection operational costs are expected to drop from 15% to approximately 3–4%, resulting in annual savings of ₹5,000–6,000 crore.
* **Resource Conservation:** The initiative is projected to save 250 crore litres of fuel and reduce carbon emissions by 81,000 tonnes annually.
* **Sustainable Infrastructure:** The government is utilizing municipal waste and bio-bitumen from crop residue for highway construction projects like the Dwarka Expressway.
**User Compliance and Regulation**
* **FASTag Requirements:** Users must maintain adequate balances; those with insufficient funds or invalid tags will receive an E-Notice.
* **Payment Timelines:** Normal fees must be paid within 72 hours of receiving an E-Notice via the designated portal (https://nhfeenotice.parivahan.gov.in/#/).
* **Penalties for Non-compliance:** Failure to pay within 72 hours results in a fee charged at twice the normal rate and potential blacklisting on the VAHAN platform.
**Impact Analysis**
**National Highway Users (Commuters)**
**Impact**
Commuters benefit from zero waiting times, smoother travel, and reduced fuel consumption. However, they face stricter monitoring regarding tag balances and electronic fee recovery.
**Action Required**
Maintain sufficient FASTag balances and check the official portal to settle any E-Notices within the 72-hour grace period to avoid double charges.
**NHAI and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH)**
**Impact**
The organizations will see enhanced transparency in toll collection and a significant reduction in the physical infrastructure costs associated with traditional toll plazas.
**Action Required**
Manage the digital National Highway infrastructure, process AI-driven traffic data, and oversee the E-Notice grievance and collection system.
**Logistics and Transportation Sector**
**Impact**
Lower logistics costs and improved travel efficiency for commercial vehicles, contributing to faster national goods movement.
**Action Required**
Ensure fleet-wide FASTag compliance to prevent vehicle-related service restrictions on the VAHAN platform.
Key Entities Referenced
Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system: A barrier-less and contactless tolling framework introduced to ensure seamless vehicle movement through tolling points without stopping.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): The primary agency responsible for implementing the MLFF system and managing the digital transformation of national highway infrastructure.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH): The central ministry overseeing the rollout of technology-driven reforms to reduce logistics costs and improve highway efficiency.
FASTag: An electronic toll collection system integrated with MLFF and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to facilitate automated user fee collection.
Mundka – Bakkarwala, UER-II (National Capital Region): The specific location of the first-of-its-kind barrier-less toll plaza launched as a pilot for the MLFF system.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Barrier-less Tolling System to Transform Highway
Travel, Reduce Pollution and Improve Efficiency:
Shri Nitin Gadkari
MLFF system to enable seamless travel, reduce fuel
consumption, lower logistics costs and support sustainable
infrastructure development
Posted On: 11 MAY 2026 7:46PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri 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.
Shri 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
Minister of State Shri Ajay Tamta and Shri Harsh Malhotra, Member of Parliament Smt. Kamaljeet
Sherawat and Shri Yogender Chandolia, NHAI Chairman Shri Santosh Kumar Yadav, and senior officials
from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), NHAI and Indian Highways Management
Company Limited (IHMCL). The MLFF system introduces a barrier-less and contactless tolling
framework aimed at ensuring seamless movement of vehicles through tolling points without the need to
stop.
In his address, Shri Gadkari thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,Minister of State Shri Ajay
Tamta, Shri Harsh Malhotra, other public representatives, NHAI officials and stakeholders associated with
the project.
Shri 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, Shri Gadkari said that the barrier-less tolling mechanism will
significantly reduce waiting time at toll plazas, resulting in substantial fuel savings and 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 congestion on highways.
Emphasising the economic advantages of the initiative, Shri Gadkari said that toll collection operations
earlier incurred expenditure of nearly 15 per cent, which under the MLFF 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 informed that 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
towards pollution reduction, particularly in Delhi-NCR.
Shri 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 being increasingly used in road construction to reduce import dependency and minimise environmental
pollution.
Expressing concern over road safety, Shri 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
MLFF system would help improve monitoring and traffic management.
He said the system would provide commuters with zero waiting time, smoother travel experience and
reduced transportation costs.
The Minister also appealed to the media and citizens to support the initiative and spread awareness about
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 MLFF marks a major advancement in 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 emission at the toll location.
For a seamless experience, National Highway users will be required to maintain sufficient balance in their
FASTag accounts. In case of scenarios such as insufficient FASTag balance, invalid or non-functional
FASTag, users will be issued an Electronic Notice (E-Notice) for non-payment of user fee. Such users will
be required to pay normal user fee within 72 hours of the E-Notice. In case of non-compliance after 72
hours, the user fee will be charged at twice the normal rate of the vehicle category. E-Notices can be
accessed and paid through the designated portal https://nhfeenotice.parivahan.gov.in/#/. Users can also
raise grievances within 72 hours of issuance of E-Notice. 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 MLFF based tolling system at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on
the Surat–Bharuch section of NH-48 in Gujarat. MLFF 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.*****
GDH/DS/HJ
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