Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said India is targeting a nationwide shift to a fully digital, barrier-free toll collection system by February-March 2027. The system will operate on the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) model, under which vehicles can pass through tolling points without stopping at conventional booths. Gadkari said the government has directed officials to accelerate the rollout, with the aim of completing a substantial portion of the work by the end of 2026.

Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, Gadkari said the government wants to eliminate stoppages at toll plazas and move towards a system in which vehicles can continue travelling at normal speeds while tolls are collected electronically. “In one year, we want to get all our tolls free on the MLFF model,” he said. Gadkari added that he had directed officials to complete the required work by December 2026 and expressed confidence that around 60% to 70% of the work would be completed by the end of the year. The nationwide system is expected to become operational by February-March 2027.

The Multi-Lane Free Flow system is designed to replace traditional toll plazas with electronic tolling infrastructure. Under the model, overhead gantries identify vehicles as they pass through designated points and automatically facilitate the collection of toll charges, removing the need for vehicles to stop or slow down at a toll booth. The system is intended to make toll collection more seamless while reducing congestion and delays that can occur at conventional toll plazas, particularly during periods of heavy traffic.

Also Read: Nitin Gadkari To Skip Mumbai-Goa Highway Event Over Delayed Project

Gadkari said eliminating stoppages would also have economic and environmental benefits by reducing fuel consumption. Vehicles that do not need to queue at toll plazas can maintain their journey without repeated acceleration and braking, potentially lowering fuel use. The minister also pointed to a reduction in the operational and maintenance costs associated with conventional toll plazas. By moving away from physical barriers and traditional tolling infrastructure, the government expects the new model to improve the efficiency of the highway tolling system.

The minister had earlier inaugurated India’s first barrier-free tolling system at the Mundka-Bakkarwala Toll Plaza on Delhi’s Urban Extension Road-II in May. Referring to the system, Gadkari said barrier-free tolling means there would be no conventional toll plaza where vehicles are required to stop and no person would need to halt traffic for toll collection. Instead, vehicles would be identified electronically as they travel through the tolling zone. The experience from such implementations is expected to support the wider rollout of the MLFF model across the country.

Gadkari’s latest announcement sets February-March 2027 as the target for implementing barrier-free tolling nationwide, while the government is working towards completing 60% to 70% of the required work by the end of 2026. The transition would represent a major change in how tolls are collected on Indian highways, replacing physical stoppages with digital, automated transactions. The government expects the system to reduce delays, fuel consumption and toll-plaza operating costs while allowing vehicles to pass through tolling points without stopping.

Also Read: Nitin Gadkari Office: “Can’t Work As Before” Remark Referred To Trust, Not Politics