Relevance: GS-3 (Infrastructure – Roads, Technology, Economy) | Source: The Hindu / PIB

1. What is the News?

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has officially launched India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system at the Choryasi plaza (NH-48) in Gujarat.

2. How the Technology Works

Vehicles no longer need to stop or slow down at boom barriers. The system works seamlessly without human intervention:

• RFID Readers: High-speed sensors installed overhead scan the FASTag on the vehicle’s windshield using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).
• ANPR Cameras: Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras simultaneously capture the vehicle’s High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) to cross-verify the deduction.

3. The Administrative Safeguards

To ensure no one escapes paying, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) implemented strict rules:

• Database Linking: The toll system is integrated with the VAHAN national registry.
• E-Penalties: Toll evaders instantly receive an e-notice and are charged double the toll amount (which is reduced to the normal fee if paid within 72 hours).

4. Economic Significance

This is a massive infrastructure upgrade. It permanently eliminates highway traffic jams, saves millions of liters of wasted fuel, lowers vehicular carbon emissions, and directly reduces the logistics transport cost for commercial goods.

The “UPSC Trap”

• Trap: Assuming that under the current MLFF barrier-less system, toll fees are calculated dynamically based on GPS and the exact distance travelled by the vehicle.
• Reality: The MLFF system still deducts standard plaza fees using RFID (FASTag) and cameras. The advanced distance-based GPS tolling system is called GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) tolling, which is an entirely different technology currently in its testing phase.

UPSC Value Box 

• IHMCL (Indian Highways Management Company Limited): An entity promoted by NHAI that is responsible for implementing the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program and rolling out the MLFF systems.
• One Vehicle, One FASTag: A recent strict regulatory policy enforced by NHAI to eliminate revenue leakage by preventing the linking of multiple FASTags to a single car, or using one tag for multiple cars.
• National Logistics Policy (NLP) 2022: A national framework aiming to reduce India’s logistics cost from 13-14% of GDP down to single digits. Seamless MLFF tolling is a critical step to achieve this.

Q. With reference to the technology and administration of highway toll collection in India, consider the following statements:

1. The newly introduced Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system primarily utilizes the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to deduct toll charges based strictly on the exact distance travelled.
2. The Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) is the nodal entity responsible for executing the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program.
3. The VAHAN database serves as a centralized national vehicle registry, assisting authorities in tracking and penalizing toll defaulters.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)