AI-Based Toll Collection to Go Nationwide by End of 2026: Gadkari
Multi-Lane Free Flow system to eliminate toll plaza stoppages, cut fuel waste and boost government revenue
New Delhi, Dec 17: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said that India will roll out an AI-based digital toll collection system across the country by the end of 2026, aiming to completely eliminate waiting time at toll plazas.
Replying to supplementary questions in the Rajya Sabha, Gadkari said the government is implementing the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system along with advanced artificial intelligence-based highway management technologies. Once operational, vehicles will be able to pass toll points without stopping, significantly reducing travel time and fuel consumption.
Explaining the transition, the minister said earlier manual toll collection required vehicles to stop for 3 to 10 minutes, which was later reduced to under a minute with FASTag. The upcoming MLFF system will allow vehicles to cross toll points at speeds of up to 80 km per hour using AI-enabled number plate recognition, satellite tracking and FASTag integration.
“Our objective is to bring waiting time to zero. Vehicles will not need to stop at toll plazas, toll leakage will be eliminated, and the system will become fully transparent,” Gadkari told the House.
He said the new system is expected to save fuel worth nearly ₹1,500 crore annually while increasing government revenue by around ₹6,000 crore. The minister added that toll theft would end once the AI-driven framework is fully implemented.
Gadkari clarified that the ministry is responsible only for national highways, noting that traffic issues on state highways or city roads are often incorrectly attributed to national highways on social media.
The minister stressed that the initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to modernise road infrastructure, reduce corruption and improve the overall commuting experience for citizens.
