Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, revealed in the Rajya Sabha that India will implement the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) toll system and AI-based highway management technology by the end of 2026. This move aims to eliminate waiting times at toll plazas for millions of commuters.
During the Question Hour session on Wednesday, Gadkari confirmed that the new tolling mechanism will leverage Artificial Intelligence, satellite technology, and number plate recognition. This technology will allow vehicles to pass through toll points seamlessly without stopping.
“With MLFF, commuters will not have to halt at toll plazas. Vehicles can travel at speeds reaching 80 km per hour,” said Gadkari, noting that this system would replace the existing FASTag mechanism currently in place.
Previously, toll payments took anywhere from three to ten minutes. The introduction of FASTag reduced this waiting time to less than one minute. Gadkari stated, “FASTag increased our revenue by at least ₹5,000 crore. MLFF is an even better facility, and our goal is to reduce waiting time to zero.”
The Minister further explained that adopting MLFF will save fuel costs worth ₹1,500 crore and generate an additional ₹6,000 crore for the government, significantly reducing toll leakage and theft.
“By 2026, this work will be fully completed. Once implemented, we will eradicate toll theft, enhance transparency, and ensure commuters experience no inconvenience at toll plazas,” Gadkari assured the members of Parliament.
He emphasized that the new AI-driven technology will help significantly decrease travel times and improve overall efficiency on the country’s national highways.
Addressing questions on responsibilities, Gadkari clarified that the central government oversees only national highways and that issues related to state highways or urban roads often get misattributed online. “We aim to ensure a transparent, efficient, and corruption-free system,” he affirmed.
This announcement marks a pivotal step toward modernizing India’s highway infrastructure and enhancing the travel experience for millions of drivers across the nation. The implementation of the MLFF toll system aligns with the broader goal of integrating advanced technologies into public infrastructure to streamline operations and improve service delivery.
