Highway Upgrade in India
India Rolls Out Multi Lane Free Flow Tolling: India has introduced its first Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system, setting a new benchmark in highway infrastructure. The launch took place at the Choryasi Fee Plaza on NH-48 in Gujarat, where vehicles can now pass without stopping at barriers. This step marks a shift toward smoother and faster travel on national highways.
Static GK fact: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) manages the country’s highways and was set up in 1988.
Partnership and Launch
The rollout follows an agreement between the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), backed by NHAI, and ICICI Bank. The pact was signed on August 30, 2025, at NHAI headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav and senior officials.
Static GK fact: ICICI Bank, founded in 1994, is one of India’s largest private sector banks, headquartered in Mumbai.
Technology Behind MLFF
The system is powered by FASTag and Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) data for toll collection. RFID readers and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras automatically identify vehicles and deduct toll charges. This removes the need for physical toll booths.
It will help minimize delays, cut fuel use, lower emissions, and ensure accurate and transparent toll revenue management.
Expansion of the Project
The pilot project in Gujarat will be followed by another rollout at the Gharaunda Fee Plaza on NH-44 in Haryana. Plans are underway to extend this system to around 25 toll plazas across India during the 2025–26 financial year. Work is already in progress to select more sites.
Static GK Tip: NH-44 is the longest highway in India, stretching about 3,745 km from Srinagar to Kanyakumari.
Importance of the Initiative
The MLFF system is expected to transform highway travel by cutting down waiting times and improving logistics movement. It aligns with the government’s push for digital infrastructure in transportation, ensuring a balance of speed, efficiency, and sustainability.
Static GK fact: India’s roadways form the second-largest road network globally, covering more than 6.3 million km.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
India Rolls Out Multi Lane Free Flow Tolling:
| Topic | Detail |
| First MLFF Toll Plaza | Choryasi Fee Plaza, NH-48, Gujarat |
| Second MLFF Site | Gharaunda Fee Plaza, NH-44, Haryana |
| Agreement Signed | IHMCL and ICICI Bank, August 30, 2025 |
| Technology Used | FASTag, VRN, RFID Readers, ANPR Cameras |
| NHAI Establishment | 1988 |
| Longest Highway in India | NH-44, 3,745 km |
| NHAI Chairman | Santosh Kumar Yadav |
| Expansion Plan | 25 plazas in 2025–26 |
| ICICI Bank Headquarters | Mumbai |
| India’s Road Network | 6.3 million km, second largest in world |
