NHAI Opens Tamil Nadu's First Barrierless MLFF Toll at Paranur
NHAI has started Tamil Nadu's first barrier-less Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling at Paranur Toll Plaza on the Tambaram-Tindivanam stretch of NH-179B.

Why in News
NHAI has rolled out Tamil Nadu's first barrier-less Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling system at Paranur Toll Plaza on the Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-179B, using ANPR cameras and FASTag.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has switched on Tamil Nadu's first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system. The new arrangement works without boom barriers, so a vehicle no longer has to halt at the plaza to pay.
Where it has begun
The system has gone live at the Paranur Toll Plaza, which stands on the Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-179B. It is the first plaza in the state to shift to free-flow collection.
How free-flow tolling works
Two technologies do the work together. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras read the registration plate of every vehicle that passes, while the FASTag-based Electronic Toll Collection system debits the user fee from the linked account. Because nothing has to be stopped and checked by hand, the role of staff in collecting toll shrinks sharply.
What the highway user gains
- No queueing and no braking at the plaza, which saves both travel time and fuel
- Less crowding of lanes and therefore lower vehicle emissions
- Toll accounting that is easier to audit and cheaper to run than a plaza full of barriers
Road users have been reminded to keep a working FASTag with enough money in it. A tag that is empty or faulty draws an Electronic Notice (E-Notice) after the vehicle has crossed.
Other plazas already on MLFF
NHAI is taking free-flow tolling to the national highway network in stages. Plazas already converted are listed below.
| Toll plaza | Stretch and state |
|---|---|
| Chorayasi | Surat-Bharuch section of NH-48, Gujarat |
| Mundka-Bakkarwala | Urban Extension Road-II, Delhi-NCR |
| Shahjahanpur, Daulatpura and Manoharpura | Delhi-Jaipur section of NH-48, Rajasthan |
| Gharaunda | Panipat-Jalandhar section of NH-44, Haryana |
Why it matters
Electronic collection through FASTag removed cash from most toll lanes; free-flow tolling now removes the barrier itself. The government places the step within its wider aim of using technology to improve ease of living and ease of doing business, and NHAI says the change strengthens transparency while cutting the cost of building and staffing physical plazas.
Important Facts
| Authority | National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) |
|---|---|
| Toll plaza | Paranur Toll Plaza |
| Highway | Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-179B |
| State | Tamil Nadu (first MLFF plaza in the state) |
| System | Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling |
| Technologies used | Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and FASTag-based Electronic Toll Collection |
| Penalty for low FASTag balance | Electronic Notice (E-Notice) |
| Other MLFF plazas | Chorayasi (Gujarat), Mundka-Bakkarwala (Delhi-NCR), Shahjahanpur, Daulatpura, Manoharpura (Rajasthan), Gharaunda (Haryana) |
Exam Point of View
Remember the state (Tamil Nadu), the plaza (Paranur), the highway (NH-179B, Tambaram-Tindivanam section), the authority (NHAI), the full form of MLFF and ANPR, the role of FASTag, the penalty notice (E-Notice) and the earlier MLFF plazas with their states.
Practice Questions
At which toll plaza has Tamil Nadu's first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system been started?
- A.Chorayasi Toll Plaza
- B.Gharaunda Toll Plaza
- C.Paranur Toll Plaza
- D.Manoharpura Toll Plaza
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Paranur Toll Plaza
Explanation
The correct answer is Paranur Toll Plaza. It lies on the Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-179B and has become the first location in Tamil Nadu where the National Highways Authority of India charges toll without a boom barrier, letting vehicles roll through while cameras and FASTag settle the fee. Option A, Chorayasi, is wrong because that plaza is on the Surat-Bharuch section of NH-48 and lies in Gujarat, not Tamil Nadu. Option B, Gharaunda, is wrong because it sits on the Panipat-Jalandhar section of National Highway-44 in Haryana. Option D, Manoharpura, is wrong because it is one of the three plazas on the Delhi-Jaipur section of NH-48 in Rajasthan, the others being Shahjahanpur and Daulatpura. All three of these were converted to free-flow tolling earlier, but none of them is in Tamil Nadu, so only Paranur answers the question asked here.
The Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling system identifies a passing vehicle mainly through which technology?
- A.Automatic Number Plate Recognition
- B.Global Positioning System tracking of each vehicle
- C.Radio broadcast of the chassis number
- D.Manual entry of the registration number by toll staff
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Automatic Number Plate Recognition
Explanation
The correct answer is Automatic Number Plate Recognition, usually shortened to ANPR. Cameras at the plaza read the registration plate of every vehicle that crosses, and the FASTag-based Electronic Toll Collection system then debits the user fee from the account linked to that vehicle. Option B is wrong because the free-flow system described for Paranur rests on plate reading and FASTag, not on satellite tracking of individual vehicles. Option C is wrong because no chassis number is broadcast anywhere in this arrangement; the chassis number is a manufacturing identity and plays no part in charging toll. Option D is wrong because the whole purpose of the change is the opposite: free-flow tolling is meant to cut human intervention in collection, so staff do not type registration numbers for passing traffic. Together, ANPR and FASTag allow charging without any halt.
On which national highway section is the Paranur Toll Plaza situated?
- A.Surat-Bharuch section of NH-48
- B.Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-179B
- C.Panipat-Jalandhar section of NH-44
- D.Urban Extension Road-II in Delhi-NCR
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-179B
Explanation
The correct answer is the Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-179B. That is where Paranur Toll Plaza stands, and it is the stretch on which Tamil Nadu received its first barrier-less tolling arrangement from the National Highways Authority of India. Option A is wrong because the Surat-Bharuch section of NH-48 carries the Chorayasi plaza in Gujarat. Option C is wrong because the Panipat-Jalandhar section of National Highway-44 carries the Gharaunda plaza in Haryana. Option D is wrong because Urban Extension Road-II in the Delhi-NCR area carries the Mundka-Bakkarwala plaza. Each of those three is a genuine free-flow location, which is what makes them useful distractors, but the question asks specifically about Paranur, and that plaza belongs to the Tambaram-Tindivanam stretch of NH-179B in Tamil Nadu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is Tamil Nadu's first Multi-Lane Free Flow toll plaza?
Paranur Toll Plaza, on the Tambaram-Tindivanam section of NH-179B. NHAI has made it the state's first barrier-less tolling location.
Which technologies run the MLFF system?
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras identify the vehicle and FASTag-based Electronic Toll Collection deducts the fee, so no barrier or stop is needed.
What happens if a FASTag has no balance at an MLFF plaza?
The vehicle still passes, because there is no barrier, but the owner receives an Electronic Notice (E-Notice). NHAI asks users to keep a functional FASTag with sufficient balance.
Sources
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2317639 (opens in a new tab) — Press Information Bureau
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