MLFF tolling system to boost highway revenue, reduce waiting times
India is rolling out a new tolling system called Multi-Lane Free-Flow (MLFF); rollout is underway in 2026 and is expected to scale through FY27, with no confirmed nationwide completion date.
With this, cars can just drive through toll plazas—designed to enable barrier-less passage at highway speeds though some barriers or checks may remain during the transition—thanks to AI-powered number plate recognition and FASTag tech.
The goal: less waiting, smoother drives, and better revenue collection on national highways.
Overhead scanners will read number plates and FASTags
Overhead scanners will read your number plate and FASTag as you pass under, so tolls get deducted automatically.
It's a step up from today's FASTag system, which already cut wait times at booths from several minutes to under a minute—and boosted highway revenue by ₹5,000 crore.
Pilots are underway and a couple of plazas are nearing completion
Pilots are underway and a couple of plazas are nearing completion, though there is no confirmed report of a fully live barrier-free plaza;
new rules also mean unpaid tolls are linked to vehicle transfers, making it harder to dodge payments.
MLFF could save ₹1,500 crore in fuel every year
MLFF could save ₹1,500 crore in fuel every year (less idling!), add ₹6,000 crore in revenue, and stop toll theft.
Plus, with automatic FASTag and ANPR-based toll deduction at gantries, toll payments will be processed without stopping at plazas.