Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari unveiled India’s inaugural Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling system at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat–Bharuch section of NH-48 in Gujarat. This innovative system, equipped with technologies like Automatic Number Plate Recognition and FASTag, allows toll collection without vehicles needing to stop. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways highlighted that this cutting-edge system is set to enhance travel efficiency, reduce congestion, promote fuel savings, minimize emissions, and streamline toll operations by reducing human involvement.
The introduction of the Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling system represents a significant advancement in India’s tolling infrastructure, aligning it with global standards. Minister Gadkari emphasized that this barrier-less tolling approach will not only improve citizens’ quality of life but also facilitate smoother business operations by expediting the movement of goods and logistics nationwide. This initiative, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, underscores the government’s dedication to establishing top-notch, technology-driven National Highway infrastructure that is both effective and user-friendly.
In a move towards digital transformation, the Union government mandated digital-only toll collection at all National Highway fee plazas in April. The implementation requires all toll payments to be made through digital channels like FASTag and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) since April 10, as announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. With FASTag adoption exceeding 98%, the toll collection landscape in India has witnessed a significant shift towards digital transactions, enhancing efficiency and convenience for road users.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has instructed all FASTag-issuing banks to promptly validate Vehicle Registration Numbers (VRNs) associated with the FASTags they have distributed. This move aims to ensure seamless and accurate toll collection processes, further streamlining the tolling experience for highway users across the country.
