Tamil Nadu’s First Barrier-Free Toll Plaza Opens At Paranur: No Stopping, Automatic Toll Collection | Chennai-news News

Last Updated:October 02, 2026, 12:21 IST

Motorists can now pass Paranur toll plaza without stopping as NHAI rolls out Tamil Nadu’s first barrier-free MLFF system using FASTag and ANPR technology

With the Paranur rollout, NHAI is expanding the use of MLFF technology to enable faster and more seamless toll collection at more locations across the country.

Motorists travelling through the Tambaram-Tindivanam section of Tamil Nadu’s national highway network will no longer have to stop at the Paranur toll plaza to pay toll, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) introducing a barrier-free toll collection system from October 1.

Located near Chengalpattu on National Highway 45, Paranur has become the first toll plaza in Tamil Nadu to adopt the fully automated Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) technology. The toll plaza is located on the 46.5-km Tambaram-Tindivanam stretch.

The new system allows vehicles to pass through the tolling zone without stopping at a toll booth or entering a designated toll lane, marking a major shift in the way electronic toll collection is carried out on national highways.

How Will The New MLFF Toll System Work?

The MLFF system combines FASTag-based electronic toll collection with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

As a vehicle passes through the tolling zone, overhead equipment reads the FASTag attached to the vehicle while ANPR cameras capture its registration number. The system uses this information to identify the vehicle and process the applicable toll automatically.

Unlike conventional toll plazas, motorists will not have to stop at a barrier or wait in a specific lane for the toll transaction to be completed.

NHAI says the barrier-free system is aimed at reducing queues and delays at toll plazas while improving the overall flow of traffic. The technology is also expected to reduce fuel consumption and vehicular emissions by eliminating the need for vehicles to idle while waiting to pay toll.

The system will reduce manual intervention in toll collection and is intended to make transactions more efficient and transparent.

What Happens If FASTag Does Not Work?

Motorists using the Paranur MLFF tolling system will need to ensure that their FASTag is valid, functional and has sufficient balance.

According to NHAI, an electronic notice will be issued in cases where a vehicle has insufficient FASTag balance or where the FASTag is invalid or non-functional.

The introduction of MLFF technology is expected to make FASTag-based toll collection more seamless by allowing vehicles to continue moving through the tolling zone instead of stopping for payment.

Tamil Nadu’s First MLFF Toll Plaza

The Paranur rollout marks Tamil Nadu’s first barrier-free toll collection system based on Multi-Lane Free Flow technology.

The initiative is part of NHAI’s wider transition towards automated and barrier-free tolling across the national highway network. Similar systems have already been introduced at toll plazas in Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan, while projects have also been awarded for locations in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and other states.

India’s First Barrier-Free Toll Plaza

The move follows the introduction of the country’s first barrier-free toll plaza on the Kamrej-Choryasi stretch between Surat and Bharuch. The facility became operational on the Mumbai-Delhi National Highway (NH48) in May this year.

With the Paranur rollout, NHAI is expanding the use of MLFF technology to enable faster and more seamless toll collection at more locations across the country.

The technology is aligned with the government’s broader push to use digital systems to improve ease of living and ease of doing business. By allowing vehicles to pass through tolling points without stopping, MLFF is expected to help reduce congestion, improve travel speeds, enhance fuel efficiency and lower vehicular emissions on national highways.

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Where is Tamil Nadu’s first barrier-free toll plaza located?

Tamil Nadu’s first barrier-free toll plaza is located at Paranur, near Chengalpattu on the Tambaram-Tindivanam section of National Highway 45 (NH 45).

What technology does the Paranur toll plaza use for toll collection?

The Paranur toll plaza uses a Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system that combines FASTag-based electronic toll collection with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to automatically process tolls without requiring vehicles to stop.

What happens if a vehicle’s FASTag does not work at the MLFF toll plaza?

If a vehicle has an invalid, non-functional, or insufficient FASTag balance, an electronic notice will be issued to the motorist.

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Parishmita Saikia

A sociologist by training and a storyteller by profession, I spend my days shaping news, and when I’m not chasing deadlines, I’m exploring new places, discovering different cultures and tasting unique…Read More

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