India's First Barrier-Free Toll Plaza Operational on Mumbai-Delhi Highway India's first barrier-free toll plaza has begun operations on the Mumbai-Delhi National Highway (NH48) near Surat, marking a significant step toward automated toll collection across the country. The Choryasi toll plaza, located on the Kamrej-Choryasi stretch between Surat and Bharuch, was officially launched after nearly two months of testing that started on February 2. This initiative, implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), utilizes Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) technology to eliminate physical barriers at toll points, allowing vehicles to pass through without stopping. The system relies on a combination of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology and FASTag integration to automatically deduct toll charges. High-resolution cameras mounted on overhead gantries scan vehicle number plates, while RFID sensors read FASTag details to directly deduct fees from linked bank accounts. This contactless process is designed to reduce congestion, minimize waiting times, and improve traffic flow on busy highway corridors. Vehicles can now pass through the toll plaza at speeds up to 80 kmph, addressing long-standing issues of queueing and traffic buildup. Chief Operating Officer of NHAI, A.R. Chitransi, highlighted the benefits of the system, stating that it eliminates the need for vehicles to halt at toll points. "This barrier-less tolling is also called multi-lane free-flow tolling. In this, there is no need to stop the vehicle. There is no barrier in this. The vehicle will pass under the gantry and its toll will be deducted," he explained. Officials emphasized that the process is fully automated, ensuring smoother and faster movement of traffic.#india #nitin_gadkari #national_highways_authority_of_india #mumbai_delhi_highway #choryasi_toll_plaza
