Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways addresses a parliamentary inquiry regarding the implementation of a barrier-less Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system on National Highways. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will implement an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system using Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) cameras as an added facility along with FASTag. The pilot project is expected to be completed by the end of Financial Year 2025-26, with performance evaluated based on system accuracy and revenue collection. A phased implementation across other fee plazas will follow based on the initial project's outcome.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Implementation of Barrier-Free Tolling:**
* NHAI will implement a barrier-free Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system on selected National Highway sections.
* The system will use Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) cameras in conjunction with FASTag.
* Vehicles will be charged user fees without stopping or slowing down.
* **Project Timeline and Evaluation:**
* The pilot project is slated for completion by the end of Financial Year 2025-26.
* Performance will be judged based on system accuracy and revenue collection compared to the existing system.
* **Financial Model:**
* Bids have been invited on Opex Mode with revenue sharing Model.
* **Expansion Plans:**
* The barrier-free tolling system will be implemented on other fee plazas in a phased manner.
* Expansion will depend on the outcome and efficacy of the initial projects.
* **Fee Plazas for Initial Implementation:**
* The following fee plazas have Requests for Proposals (RFP) invited/finalized for barrier-less tolling:
* Choryasi (NH8, Bharuch-Surat): Awarded
* Gharaunda (NH44, Panipat-Jalandhar): Awarded
* Nemili (NH48, Sriperumbudur-Walajapet-Poomalle): Bid under evaluation
* Bijwasan and Dwarka Expressway, NH 248BB: Bids invited
* Panchgaon Integrated Manoharpura (NH48, Delhi-Jaipur): Bids invited
* Shahjahanpur (NH48, Delhi-Jaipur): Bids invited
* Daulatpura (NH48, Delhi-Jaipur): Bids invited
* Urban Extension Road (UER) II, NH344M NH344N: Under rebidding
Impact Analysis
* **Vehicle Users:**
* *Impact:* Experience seamless and free-flow movement on national highways without stopping at toll plazas.
* *Action Required:* Ensure vehicles are equipped with functional FASTags or have number plates easily readable by ANPR cameras.
* **National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing and managing the new tolling system, monitoring its performance, and planning for future expansion.
* *Action Required:* Oversee the completion of the pilot project by the end of FY 2025-26, evaluate its performance, and prepare for the phased rollout to other fee plazas.
* **Toll Operators/Bidders:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing and maintaining the technology for the barrierless tolling system.
* *Action Required:* Fulfill the terms of the Opex Mode with revenue sharing Model, ensuring accurate and efficient toll collection.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The government ministry responsible for road transport and highways.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): The authority responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways in India.
BarrierLess or MultiLane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system: A toll collection system that allows vehicles to pass through toll plazas without stopping.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR): A technology used to automatically identify vehicles by reading their license plates.
Electronic Toll Collection (ETC): System to collect toll electronically.
FASTag: An electronic toll collection system in India, making use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it.
Choryasi, Gujarat: A fee plaza located on the Bharuch-Surat section of National Highway 8.
Gharaunda, Haryana: A fee plaza located on the Panipat-Jalandhar section of National Highway 44.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4731
ANSWERED ON 21ST AUGUST, 2025
BARRIER LESS/MULTI LANE FREE FLOW TOLLING SYSTEM
4731. SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:
SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:
SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:
SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) proposes to
implement the Barrier-Less or Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system
at selected toll plazas by using technologies like RFID (Radio-Frequency
Identification) scanners and AI-powered Automatic Number Plate
Recognition (ANPR) cameras as a pilot project for toll collection and if
so, the details thereof;
(b) the time by which the said pilot project is likely to be completed and
the criteria for evaluating its performance;
(c) the total expenditure incurred or likely to be incurred on developing
the said system;
(d) the NHs/Expressways which have been identified/selected for
installation of the above system in its next phase; and
(e) whether the Government is planning for a national roll-out of the
MLFF tolling system and if so, the details thereof and the time by which
it is likely to be done?
1ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) In order to ensure seamless and free-flow movement of vehicles along
national highways and to increase the efficiency of the tolling
operation, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has decided to
implement barrier-free Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) System with
available technology, using Automatic Number Plate Reading Cameras,
at selected sections of National Highways as an added facility along
with FASTag where the user fee shall be charged from the vehicle users
without them having to stop, slow down or stay in a given fee plaza lane.
(b) The implementation of barrierless fee collection system on selected
sections of National Highways, is expected to be completed by the end
of Financial Year 2025-26. The performance criteria include the accuracy
of the system and revenue collection vis-à-vis existing system.
(c) to (d) The Bids have been invited on Opex Mode with revenue sharing
Model. The details of fee plazas for which Request for Proposal (RFP)
has been invited/finalized for implementation of barrierless tolling are at
Annexure.
(e) Barrierless fee collection system will be implemented on other fee
plazas in a phased manner depending upon the outcome and efficacy of
the implementation on these projects.
2ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) to (d) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4731 FOR ANSWER ON 21.08.2025 ASKED
SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO, SHRI MANISH JAISWAL, SHRI
DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE, SHRI SUDHEER
GUPTA REGARDING BARRIER LESS/MULTI LANE FREE FLOW TOLLING
SYSTEM.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Details of fee plazas for which Request for Proposal (RFP) has been
invited/finalized for implementation of barrier less tolling:
Name of the Fee Plaza Name of the NH Stretch Status
Choryasi Bharuch-Surat (NH-8) Awarded
Gharaunda Panipat-Jalandhar (NH-44) Awarded
Bid under
Nemili (Sriperumbudur) Walajapet – Poomalle (NH-48)
evaluation
Bijwasan and Dwarka Expressway, NH
Bids invited
Panchgaon Integrated 248BB
Manoharpura Delhi-Jaipur (NH-48) Bids invited
Shahjahanpur Delhi-Jaipur (NH-48) Bids invited
Daulatpura Delhi-Jaipur (NH-48) Bids invited
Urban Extension Road (UER- Under
UER-II
II), NH-344M & NH-344N rebidding
*****
3