The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is making a stride towards eliminating the long queues and traffic congestion at toll plazas on important highways. The authority has announced the launch of a camera-based automatic toll collection system on prominent stretches of the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway and the GST Road. This initiative aims to enable seamless travel by allowing vehicles to pass toll points without stopping, marking a significant upgrade in India’s highway infrastructure.

Revolutionary Tolling Technology for Faster Travel

The new system, known as Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF), employs advanced Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras paired with RFID readers. The cameras can capture vehicle registration details from up to 40 metres away and are integrated with the FASTag platform, enabling automatic deduction of toll fees from the driver’s FASTag account. Vehicles can travel through toll points at speeds of up to 150 kmph without the need to halt, thus abolishing the stop-and-go traffic traditionally experienced at toll plazas.

This technology will initially be implemented at three key toll plazas—Nemili (Sriperumbudur) and Chennasamudram on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway, and Paranur on the Tambaram-Villupuram stretch of GST Road. These corridors experience high traffic volumes, with approximately 75,000 passenger car units passing daily, making the introduction of this system particularly impactful.

Easing Congestion and Fuel Wastage

With the six-lane main carriageway remaining fully open during implementation, ANPR cameras and RFID readers will be strategically mounted overhead to ensure smooth and uninterrupted toll transactions. The automated system will capture clear images and short video clips of vehicle number plates, ensuring accuracy and security of toll deduction.

According to NHAI officials, this technology not only promises to drastically reduce the travel time at toll points but will also effectively cut down fuel wastage caused by idling vehicles stuck in queues. With the multi-layered verification system in place, the project is undergoing rigorous checks before being commissioned for public use, ensuring reliability and efficiency.

A Nationwide Push for Smart Infrastructure

This launch is part of a broader NHAI programme to implement the MLFF system at 25 toll plazas across national highways within the current financial year. India’s first barrier-free camera-based toll plaza was inaugurated in Gujarat in August 2025, setting the stage for this transformative rollout in southern India.

The Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is spearheading this project. It has floated tenders to appoint an operator responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the system over the next five years. The contractor is expected to finish the installation works within 14 months of order receipt.

To ensure a smooth transition, NHAI will also introduce procedures to handle toll recovery from vehicles where automatic deductions may fail. This initiative is anticipated to usher in a new era of frictionless travel on Indian highways, significantly benefiting commuters and freight movement alike by enhancing traffic flow and reducing travel delays.

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