Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling pilot soon on Bengaluru–Mysuru highway

In a major move towards barrier-free and congestion-free highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is exploring implementation of a Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling pilot project on the 117-km-long Bengaluru–Mysuru Access-Controlled Highway (NH-275) soon.

The MLFF system replaces traditional toll booths with overhead gantries equipped with satellite-based GPS technology, high-performance RFID FASTag readers and Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. These systems automatically identify vehicles and deduct toll charges at high speeds without requiring vehicles to stop, aiming to eliminate long queues at toll plazas.

The project to implement the MLFF system along this corridor will be awarded to a firm through a tendering process, officials of the NHAI said. A tender has already been floated, and a few firms have submitted bids, which are currently under evaluation, the official added.

Speaking to The Hindu, NHAI’s Regional Officer (Karnataka) Vilas P. Brahmankar said the project marks a significant step towards seamless electronic tolling. “This is a major shift towards barrier-less toll collection. MLFF enables transactions through the reading of FASTag and Vehicle Registration Numbers (VRN) using high-performance RFID readers and ANPR cameras. Vehicles will no longer need to stop at toll plazas, which will reduce congestion, save travel time, improve fuel efficiency and lower vehicular emissions,” he said.

India rolled out its first MLFF tolling system in August 2025 at the Choryasi Fee Plaza on NH-48 in Gujarat. The barrier-free setup allows toll deduction while vehicles are in motion, and officials said that it will help cut congestion and improve overall traffic flow.

Another senior NHAI official told The Hindu that the Bengaluru–Mysuru project would initially function as a pilot, with existing toll plazas remaining in place for the time being.

“This is a testing phase. While MLFF gantries and systems will be installed, toll plazas will not be immediately removed. The pilot will allow us to study system accuracy, user compliance, enforcement challenges and backend settlement processes. Based on its performance, we will move towards full-scale implementation and eventually phase out physical toll booths,” the official explained.

“This MLFF system will be installed before of the existing toll plazas, allowing the toll amount to be automatically deducted from FASTag accounts without vehicles having to pass through the toll booths. The system has demonstrated 99% efficiency and it is virtually error-free,” the official said.

The official added that once fully operational, the MLFF system would make tolling almost invisible to road users, ensuring smoother traffic flow on one of Karnataka’s busiest highway corridors connecting Mysuru with the State's capital city. Thousands of vehicles use this stretch everyday, while during weekends and long holidays, long traffic jams are witnessed on this stretch.

Under the contract, the company implementing the system is also responsible for its operation and maintenance. The firm must ensure that toll amounts collected from motorists are securely and swiftly transferred to the linked bank accounts.