Tamil Nadu gets its first barrier-free toll system on Tambaram highway

The National Highways Authority of India has launched Tamil Nadu's first Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling system at the Paranur Toll Plaza on the Tambaram-Tindivanam section of National Highway 179B. This new system removes physical barriers, allowing cars and trucks to move through the toll point without stopping.

How It Works

The technology uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition to read vehicle number plates and pairs it with FASTag-based electronic toll collection. Motorists must keep a working FASTag with enough money in their account to avoid getting an electronic notice. The National Highways Authority of India states that this setup makes travel smoother, cuts down costs for physical booths, and brings more transparency to toll operations.

Wider Rollout

This project is part of a phased nationwide rollout by the National Highways Authority of India. Similar systems are already active at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza in Gujarat, the Mundka-Bakkarwala Toll Plaza in Delhi-NCR, the Gharaunda Toll Plaza in Haryana, and the Shahjahanpur, Daulatpura, and Manoharpura Toll Plazas in Rajasthan.

Context

Electronic toll collection systems have grown rapidly across India in recent years to reduce long queues at highway gates. Upgrading to camera-based number plate recognition alongside FASTag represents the next step in modernizing national highway travel. Similar automated tolling models are widely used globally to keep traffic moving at highway speeds.