Drive Through Tollgates: New Rules For High-Speed Highways
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Infrastructure (energy, ports, roads, railways)· Prelims·
Infrastructure and logistics: a GS3 case study on enhancing highway efficiency and sustainability.
Why in news
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) issued new guidelines for high-speed National Highways introducing Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling to allow non-stop vehicle passage.
Background
The NHAI guidelines apply specifically to four-lane and six-lane Greenfield and Brownfield highways, explicitly excluding expressways. The rules mandate the early integration of plantation and drainage systems to ensure road resilience and sustainability.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyNHAI: National Highways Authority of India
- FactMulti-Lane Free Flow tolling allows vehicles to pass without stopping
- FactGuidelines apply to four-lane and six-lane Greenfield and Brownfield highways
- FactGuidelines exclude expressways from the new tolling rules
Prelims practice question
With reference to the NHAI guidelines for Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling, consider the following statements:
- The new tolling rules explicitly include expressways.
- The rules mandate the early integration of plantation and drainage systems.
- The guidelines apply to both four-lane and six-lane Greenfield and Brownfield highways.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a)1 only
- (b)1 and 2 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)2 and 3 only
Show answer
Answer: (d) 2 and 3 only — Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect: The guidelines explicitly exclude expressways.
For Mains
Q. Discuss how the adoption of Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling and green infrastructure mandates can enhance the efficiency and sustainability of India's highway corridors.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Operational efficiency: Reducing congestion and carbon emissions by eliminating stop-and-go traffic at toll plazas
- Environmental resilience: Integrating drainage and plantation systems to mitigate climate-induced road degradation
- Technological integration: Balancing high-speed infrastructure requirements with advanced traffic projection modeling
Keywords: Multi-Lane Free Flow · Greenfield projects · Brownfield projects · Infrastructure sustainability · Traffic projection
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.