India’s First Barrier-Free Toll Plaza to Debut in Gujarat Under NHAI Initiative

In a significant development, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has entered into an agreement through its subsidiary, the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), with ICICI Bank. This agreement will see the implementation of the country’s pioneering Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system at the Choryasi Fee Plaza, located on NH-48 in Gujarat. The contract signing took place on August 30 at the NHAI Headquarters in Delhi, attended by key figures including NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav and other senior officials. This initiative is designed to enhance the tolling experience for commuters, providing a seamless and barrier-free passage. The implementation of MLFF tolling, which will enable electronic toll collection via FASTag without stopping, marks a considerable leap forward. The Choryasi Fee Plaza is slated to be the first toll plaza in India to operate without physical barriers. Complementing this, a similar agreement was also signed with ICICI Bank for the deployment of MLFF at the Gharaunda Fee Plaza in Haryana, positioned on NH-44. Looking ahead, NHAI is preparing to introduce MLFF-based tolling at approximately 25 national highway fee plazas during the 2025-26 financial year, with site selection currently in progress. According to NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, the agreement is a major milestone in updating tolling methods in India, using technology to create a more efficient, transparent, and user-friendly system. This aligns with NHAI’s goal of using technology to transform national highway operations and will facilitate nationwide adoption.