Dwarka Expressway in New Delhi to be India's first to use Free Flow Tolling System

India is set to witness a significant milestone in its road infrastructure with the introduction of the country’s first Free Flow Tolling System on the Dwarka Expressway in New Delhi. 

This innovative tolling method, developed to reduce traffic congestion and enhance the commuter experience, marks a significant leap toward smart urban transport solutions. The Free Flow Tolling System eliminates the need for vehicles to stop at toll booths, allowing for seamless movement. 

The system will employ cutting-edge FASTag readers and high-resolution cameras installed on overhead gantries to scan vehicle registration numbers and FASTag tags, even at speeds of up to 100 km/h. As vehicles pass under these gantries, toll charges will be automatically deducted from their FASTag accounts, eliminating the need for manual toll payments.

This initiative is part of the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI) larger strategy to modernize toll collection systems and enhance road travel nationwide. If the pilot project on the Dwarka Expressway proves successful, the Free Flow Tolling system may be extended to other highways throughout India.

The Free Flow Tolling features Open Road Tolling (ORT) system powered by a combination of advanced technologies like  Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) - cameras on gantries capture vehicle license plate numbers as they pass; RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)  systems -  vehicles are fitted with FASTags that interact with the tolling system, enabling automatic payment processing;
Overhead Gantries - these structures, equipped with cameras and FASTag readers, are strategically placed to collect data from passing vehicles; Backend Processing Systems - the captured data is transmitted to a central system, which matches vehicle information with toll accounts and processes payments instantly.

The introduction of the Free Flow Tolling System on this expressway is expected to reduce traffic and bottlenecks. It will also save time, lower emissions, and increase operational efficiency. It will not only modernize infrastructure but will also ensure a smoother and faster commuting experience for all.