New Delhi: India is preparing for a major highway travel upgrade as the government plans to remove physical toll plazas by the end of 2026. The new automated distance-based toll system announced by Nitin Gadkari aims to allow vehicles to drive without stopping at toll booths.
The system will use advanced technology like FASTag, ANPR cameras, and Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling to automatically deduct toll charges based on the exact distance travelled.
What Is India’s New Automated Toll Collection System?
The government plans to replace traditional toll booths with a barrier-free tolling system called MLFF (Multi-Lane Free Flow). Under this model:
- Vehicles will not need to stop at toll plazas
- Toll will be deducted automatically
- Charges will depend on the actual distance travelled
- Cameras and sensors will read vehicle number plates
- FASTag accounts will remain linked for payment deduction
According to Gadkari, vehicles may be able to maintain speeds of around 80 kmph without interruption on highways.
How The Automated Distance-Based Toll System Will Work
The upcoming toll system will mainly use:
- ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology
- FASTag-based electronic tolling
- Overhead gantries with cameras and sensors
- Automated billing linked to bank accounts
When a vehicle enters and exits a highway section, the system will calculate the travelled distance and deduct the exact toll amount automatically.
Why India Wants To Remove Toll Plazas
The government believes traditional toll plazas create:
- Long traffic jams
- Fuel wastage
- Travel delays
- Higher pollution levels
- Unnecessary waiting time
The new automated toll collection system is expected to:
- Improve highway traffic flow
- Reduce congestion
- Save fuel
- Cut travel time
- Offer more accurate toll charges
Officials also say commuters may pay lower toll charges because users will only pay for the exact road usage instead of fixed toll sections.
FASTag Will Continue To Play A Key Role
Even after toll plazas are removed, FASTag will still remain an important part of India’s toll ecosystem.
Currently, FASTag is India’s electronic toll collection system operated under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). It uses RFID technology for automatic toll deduction.
The new system is expected to combine FASTag data with AI-powered vehicle tracking and number plate recognition technologies.
Timeline of Automated Distance-Based Toll System
According to statements made by Gadkari at the Times Drive Auto Summit and Awards 2026:
- Physical toll plazas may disappear by the end of 2026
- MLFF technology is already being tested at several locations
- The system will gradually expand nationwide
- Barrier-less tolling will become standard on highways
Earlier reports also suggested that the government had already started preparations for nationwide rollout of barrier-free tolling systems.
