The new system, known as Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF), will replace traditional toll booths with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras integrated with the FASTag platform. Vehicles will be able to pass through toll points without stopping, as cameras capture registration details at speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour, ensuring smooth, congestion-free travel.
The MLFF system will initially be rolled out at the Nemili (Sriperumbudur) and Chennasamudram toll plazas on the Chennai–Bengaluru highway, and at the Paranur toll plaza on the Tambaram–Villupuram stretch of GST Road. These busy corridors handle around 75,000 passenger car units daily, according to NHAI data.
Once operational, ANPR cameras will automatically record vehicle details and deduct the toll amount from the driver’s FASTag account, significantly reducing travel time, fuel consumption, and traffic build-up.
The implementation will be overseen by the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) under the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Tenders have already been issued to select an operator to design, develop, and maintain the system for five years.
Officials explained that the six-lane main carriageway will remain fully open, equipped with overhead ANPR cameras and RFID readers placed strategically for seamless toll deduction. Each camera will capture clear number plate images and short video clips from up to 40 metres, while RFID devices will detect vehicles up to 300 metres before the toll point.
The contractor will be required to complete installation within 14 months of the work order, with separate mechanisms planned to recover tolls in cases where automatic deduction fails.
Once fully operational, the MLFF system is expected to eliminate long queues, reduce emissions from idling vehicles, and mark a significant move towards smart, fast, and frictionless highway travel across India.
