Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated Delhi’s first barrier-less toll plaza on the Urban Extension Road-II corridor. Located at Mandka-Bakarwala, the new setup becomes the country’s second barrier-free toll system after Gujarat and marks a major change in the toll collection system on Indian highways.
Barrier-less toll plazas: How they work.
The new tolling setup uses Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) technology, which allows vehicles to pass toll points without stopping. Unlike traditional toll plazas that use boom barriers and dedicated lanes, the MLFF system works through overhead gantries equipped with cameras and sensors that automatically detect vehicles and digitally collect toll charges as they move.The system identifies vehicles in real time using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and other tracking technologies. As a vehicle passes under the tooling structure, the system captures the number plate, classifies the vehicle based on axle count and dimensions, and generates a unique tracking ID. The toll amount is then linked to the vehicle’s FASTag account as part of the complete tolling ecosystem.The major benefit of barrier-less setup is to reduce congestion at toll points. Since vehicles are no longer required to slow down or stop, the system is expected to reduce long queues, improve traffic flow and reduce fuel wastage due to idling and frequent stops.
However, motorists must ensure that their FASTag is active and properly funded. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has said that if the toll payment is not completed successfully, an e-notice will be issued to the vehicle owner. Drivers must clear pending tolls within 72 hours to avoid fines.If payment is made within the 72-hour window, only the normal toll amount will be charged. But if the payment is delayed by more than 72 hours, motorists will have to pay double the amount of toll as penalty.To avoid such issues, NHAI has advised vehicle owners to maintain sufficient FASTag balance, keep their FASTag active at all times and ensure that the vehicle is equipped with a High Security Registration Plate (HSRP). Users are also advised to regularly check notifications linked to their registered mobile numbers for any pending toll alerts.
