Overview
On May 11, 2026, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways, inaugurated the Multi‑Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier‑less tolling system at the Mundka‑Bakkarwala toll plaza on Urban Extension Road‑II (UER‑II). This is the second such installation in the country after the Choryasi Toll Plaza on the Surat‑Bharuch stretch of NH‑48, Gujarat.
Key Developments
- Inauguration of the second MLFF system at Mundka‑Bakkarwala, Delhi.
- Announcement by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to deploy the technology at 17 fee plazas across nine states by September 2026.
- Phase‑2 expansion of more than 108+ plazas slated for completion by March 2027.
- Adoption of advanced technologies such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and FASTag to enable seamless, stop‑free toll collection.
Important Facts
The rollout will cover states including Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Assam. The system eliminates the need for vehicles to halt at the plaza, thereby cutting queue lengths, saving fuel, and reducing travel time. By integrating ANPR with FASTag, the tolling process becomes fully automated, with data captured in real time for revenue reconciliation.
Exam Relevance
For GS 3 (Economy), the initiative illustrates the government's push towards digital infrastructure, efficiency in public‑service delivery, and reduction of transaction costs in transport logistics. It also reflects the broader “Digital India” agenda and its impact on road‑transport economics. From a GS 2 (Polity) perspective, the role of the NHAI showcases inter‑ministerial coordination and the execution capacity of central agencies in implementing large‑scale infrastructure projects.
Way Forward
Successful implementation at the pilot plazas is expected to accelerate the adoption of MLFF across the national highway network. Continuous monitoring of traffic flow, revenue collection, and user experience will guide refinements. The government aims to achieve a fully barrier‑less tolling ecosystem by the end of FY 2027, thereby enhancing road safety, reducing emissions from idling vehicles, and contributing to the efficiency of the logistics sector.