Free flow toll plaza (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: Half of those who received e-notices after the first-ever implementation of multi-lane free movement (MLFF) or barrier-free toll on NH-48 in Gujarat have paid the toll, which is around Rs 30 lakh, NHAI said on Monday.After launching the MLFF system, IHMCL, the toll and technology arm of NHAI, started issuing electronic notices to vehicle owners who have not paid tolls from May 1. Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the second such facility in Delhi on Monday.“This seamless system will make traveling easy as no one needs to park. It will save time and fuel, as well as NHAI toll charges. We will save at least Rs 6,000-7,000 crore every year. It would also plug the drain on toll revenue. People won’t mind paying toll if it is seamless,” he told TOI.NHAI president Santosh Yadav said that 50% of vehicle owners paid the outstanding tolls, “justifying the assumption that people are generally law-abiding”. He added that IHMCL has bid for 17 MLFF plazas so far and bids for 108 more plazas have also been floated.Gadkari said that once all 700 toll plazas are made accessible, it is expected to save Rs 295 crore in fuel annually and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 81,000 tonnes, besides reducing travel time and improving logistics efficiency. Gadkari said: “Our toll operating cost has been reduced from the current 12-15% to 3-4%, and the funds saved will be used for more highway projects.”The minister said the installation of high-powered cameras at MLFF toll plazas will also help curb traffic violations. Yadav said that drawing on the experience of the first MLFF toll collection, subsequent toll plazas will take measures to remind drivers of upcoming barrier-free toll collection locations.Yadav also announced several upcoming initiatives to notify and alert drivers on mobile phones about diversions, fog, cattle and landslide-prone areas, and to track ambulances in emergencies. These alerts will be displayed on the navigation app.
