New Delhi, May 11 (IANS) Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said India is rapidly moving towards world-class highway infrastructure with the rollout of the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system, which aims to ensure seamless travel, reduce pollution and lower logistics costs across the country.

The Minister inaugurated the country’s first barrier-less toll plaza at Mundka-Bakkarwala on the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) in the National Capital Region.

The MLFF system introduces a contactless and barrier-free toll collection mechanism that allows vehicles to pass through toll plazas without stopping, using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology integrated with FASTag-based electronic toll collection.

Speaking at the launch event, Gadkari said the new system has been developed using advanced international-standard technology after extensive consultations with technology providers and private stakeholders.

“India is rapidly moving towards world-class highway infrastructure with the introduction of the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system, which will ensure seamless travel, reduce pollution, lower logistics costs and improve operational efficiency across the country,” Gadkari said.

He said the government remains committed to upgrading highway infrastructure through technology-driven reforms aimed at improving commuter convenience and ensuring sustainable development.

“The MLFF system has been developed using advanced international-standard technology and required extensive consultations with technology providers and private stakeholders,” he mentioned.

“The Government remains committed to continuously upgrading highway technology while ensuring sustainable development and greater commuter convenience,” Gadkari noted.

According to Gadkari, the new system is expected to save nearly 250 crore litres of fuel annually and reduce around 81,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, particularly benefiting pollution-hit regions such as Delhi-NCR.

“The barrier-less tolling mechanism will significantly reduce waiting time at toll plazas, resulting in substantial fuel savings and smoother travel experience for commuters,” he stated.

He further said operational costs in toll collection, which earlier stood at nearly 15 per cent, are expected to come down to around 3-4 per cent under the MLFF system.

The reduction in costs could result in annual savings of approximately Rs 5,000-6,000 crore, he added.

–IANS

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