Mumbai, July 2 -- On June 25 the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) rolled out Multi-lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling at the Gharaunda toll plaza on the Panipat-Jalandhar section of National Highway 44 (NH-44). The system enables barrier-less toll collection and removes the need for vehicles to stop or slow at the plaza. The rollout forms part of a wider push towards realising technology driven and seamless highway travel across the road network. The approach is intended to cut queuing and to lessen emissions associated with idling vehicles.
The MLFF installation uses advanced electronic toll collection (ETC) technologies with high performance sensors and cameras mounted on overhead gantries to identify vehicles automatically. Deductions are effected through FASTag, allowing uninterrupted movement at highway speeds and reducing delays. The automated collection mechanism is designed to optimise throughput and reduce bottlenecks at plazas. NHAI has previously implemented MLFF at Choryasi in Gujarat, at the Mundka toll plaza in Delhi and at Daulatpura in Rajasthan.
Officials said the move is aimed at enhancing commuter convenience, cutting travel time, improving fuel efficiency and creating a safer and more sustainable road transport ecosystem. Road users are advised to maintain sufficient balance in their FASTag accounts to avoid disruptions, to ensure FASTags remain active and properly affixed on vehicle windscreens and to use clear and compliant High Security Registration Plates. The authority is focusing on integration of technology to reduce congestion and emissions.
The Gharaunda rollout is being presented as a step in the incremental adoption of barrier-less tolling across major corridors and will be monitored for performance and compliance. Monitoring will focus on traffic flow and transaction accuracy to refine system calibration and enforcement practices. Further deployments are expected to build on lessons from existing installations and to support the broader objective of modernising toll operations on national highways.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.