Syllabus:
GS3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.
Context:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is planning to introduce a Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system at 25 National Highway fee plazas during the current financial year.
More on the News
- India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system will come up at Choryasi Fee Plaza in Gujarat on National Highway 48.
- For this, the Indian Highways Management Company (IHMCL), under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has entered into an agreement with ICICI Bank.
- Additionally, an agreement was also signed with ICICI Bank for the implementation of MLFF at Gharaunda Fee Plaza in Haryana on NH-44.
- This is part of the mega plan under which NHAI plans to roll out MLFF-based tolling at around 25 National Highway fee plazas during the current financial year.
Multi-Lane Free Flow Tolling System
- The Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling is a barrier-less tolling system.
- It enables transactions through reading of FASTag and Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) by High-performance RFID Readers and ANPR Cameras.
- It aims at improving toll revenue collection and creating a smarter, faster and more efficient National Highway (NH) network across the country.
Advantages of the MLFF Tolling System
• Seamless and Faster Travel: Vehicles can pass through toll points at highway speeds, eliminating the need to slow down or stop, which saves time and makes journeys more predictable.
- For logistics and freight transport, it leads to faster turnaround times and improved efficiency in supply chains.
• Reduced Fuel Consumption and Emissions: By minimizing braking and acceleration cycles at toll plazas, MLFF systems contribute to lower fuel consumption and a reduction in air pollution.
• Lower Operational Costs: Eliminating physical toll booths and the associated infrastructure reduces construction, operation, and maintenance costs for toll plazas.
• Increased Road Safety: By preventing the stop-and-go traffic and potential bottlenecks at toll plazas, the system contributes to a safer and more efficient roadway.
• Enhanced Toll Revenue: The system’s efficient electronic collection mechanism improves accuracy and reduces potential leakage, leading to better toll revenue for the government.
National Highways in India
• Currently, the country has a road network spanning over 63 lakh km. Of this, the total length of National Highways (NH) stands at 1,46,342 km.
- India ranks second in total road length, but NH density per area and per capita is still lower than in developed countries.
• This marks a significant expansion from 91,287 km in March 2014, an increase of 55,055 km in the National Highway network over the past decade.
• As of November 2023, India has a total of 599 National Highways.
• The road transport sector contributes around 4% of India’s GDP.
Sources:
Indian Express
PIB
India Times