Drive Through Toll Plazas Without Stopping: AI-Powered System to Transform Highway Travel by 2026
Drive Through Toll Plazas Without Stopping: AI-Powered System to Transform Highway Travel by 2026
Commuters on national highways may soon experience seamless travel as the government gears up to implement a revolutionary toll collection system that eliminates waiting times altogether.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently informed the Rajya Sabha that by the end of 2026, the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) toll system, combined with AI-driven highway management, will be operational across the country. This cutting-edge technology is designed to allow vehicles to pass through toll plazas without stopping, saving both time and fuel.
Speaking in the House, Gadkari explained that the new system will be entirely AI-based, integrating satellite-enabled number plate recognition with FASTag. “Earlier, paying tolls would take anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes.
FASTag reduced this to about 60 seconds, increasing government revenue by at least ₹5,000 crore. With MLFF, vehicles can cross toll plazas at speeds up to 80 km/h without halting,” he said. The minister added that this initiative aims to bring waiting time at tolls down to zero.
The rollout of this technology is expected to bring multiple benefits. Drivers will save approximately ₹1,500 crore annually on fuel, while government revenue could see an additional boost of around ₹6,000 crore. Moreover, the system will help curb toll evasion and make highway travel smoother and more efficient.
Gadkari emphasized that the government’s responsibility lies only with national highways, not state or city roads. “Often, issues on state and city roads are mistakenly associated with national highways. We are working to make the system fully transparent and corruption-free,” he added.
