NHAI launches Tamil Nadu's first barrierless MLFF tolling at Paranur Plaza
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu has its first barrierless toll plaza — and it signals where India's highway tolling is headed. NHAI's MLFF rollout at Paranur on NH-179B uses ANPR and FASTag to let vehicles pass at full speed, cutting congestion and emissions. Combined with the FASTag Annual Pass crossing 1 crore users, India's cashless highway infrastructure is quietly hitting scale.
Key Takeaways
NHAI launched Tamil Nadu's first MLFF tolling system at Paranur Toll Plaza on NH-179B on 1 October 2026 .
The barrier-free system uses ANPR and FASTag-based Electronic Toll Collection to allow vehicles to pass without stopping.
MLFF is already live at toll plazas in Gujarat , Delhi-NCR , Rajasthan , and Haryana ; Tamil Nadu is the first southern state to go live.
The FASTag Annual Pass has crossed 1 crore activations since its launch on 15 August last year.
The Annual Pass costs ₹3,075 and covers one year or 200 toll crossings for non-commercial vehicles.
Highway users without a funded FASTag at MLFF plazas face an Electronic Notice (E-Notice) .
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has rolled out Tamil Nadu's first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system at Paranur Toll Plaza on the Tambaram–Tindivanam Section of NH-179B, according to an official statement issued on Thursday, 1 October 2026. The deployment marks a significant step in the Centre's push to eliminate stop-and-go toll collection on National Highways across the country.
How the MLFF System Works
The barrier-free system allows vehicles to pass through toll plazas at normal driving speed, removing the need to slow down or stop for payment. It relies on two core technologies: Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and FASTag-based Electronic Toll Collection. Together, these tools automate the entire toll-deduction process with minimal human intervention.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the MLFF model significantly reduces congestion, shortens travel time, improves fuel efficiency, and lowers vehicular emissions on National Highways — outcomes that become increasingly material as highway traffic volumes rise.
Where MLFF Has Already Been Deployed
The Paranur rollout is part of a phased national expansion. MLFF systems are already operational at several locations: Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat–Bharuch section of NH-48 in Gujarat; Mundka-Bakkarwala Toll Plaza on Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) in Delhi-NCR; Shahjahanpur, Daulatpura, and Manoharpura toll plazas on the Delhi–Jaipur section of NH-48 in Rajasthan; and Gharaunda Toll Plaza on the Panipat–Jalandhar section of National Highway-44 in Haryana. Tamil Nadu now joins this growing network as the first southern state to go live with the technology.
FASTag Annual Pass Crosses 1 Crore Milestone
Alongside the MLFF expansion, the FASTag Annual Pass has crossed 1 crore activations since its launch on 15 August last year, NHAI noted. The pass is available to all non-commercial vehicle owners holding a valid FASTag and is activated on the existing FASTag linked to the vehicle after a one-time fee payment via the Rajmargyatra App.
Priced at ₹3,075, the pass offers one year validity or 200 toll plaza crossings, whichever comes first. It eliminates the need for repeated FASTag top-ups, simplifying the experience for frequent highway users.
What Highway Users Must Do
For a seamless MLFF experience, NHAI has advised all National Highway users to ensure their FASTag is functional and carries a sufficient balance. Vehicles passing through MLFF-enabled plazas without a valid, funded FASTag will be liable to receive an Electronic Notice (E-Notice). This compliance requirement becomes especially relevant as more toll plazas transition away from conventional barrier-based collection.
With Tamil Nadu now online, NHAI is expected to accelerate MLFF rollouts to other states in subsequent phases, moving India incrementally closer to a fully seamless national tolling network.
Point of View
And southern highway users will need to get FASTag-ready faster than most have. The broader issue is compliance: ANPR-based enforcement is only as strong as the E-Notice follow-through, and NHAI has historically struggled to recover toll arrears at scale. The FASTag Annual Pass crossing 1 crore is a genuine adoption signal, but it represents a fraction of the registered vehicle base. Until FASTag penetration reaches near-universal levels, barrierless plazas will still have leakage — and that leakage is public revenue, not just inconvenience.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MLFF tolling system launched in Tamil Nadu?
The Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system is a barrier-free toll collection technology that allows vehicles to pass through toll plazas without stopping, using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and FASTag-based Electronic Toll Collection. NHAI deployed Tamil Nadu's first such system at Paranur Toll Plaza on NH-179B on 1 October 2026.
Where is the new MLFF toll plaza located in Tamil Nadu?
The MLFF system is installed at Paranur Toll Plaza on the Tambaram–Tindivanam Section of National Highway-179B (NH-179B) in Tamil Nadu.
What are the benefits of the barrierless MLFF tolling system?
The MLFF system reduces congestion, improves travel time, enhances fuel efficiency, and lowers vehicular emissions by eliminating the need for vehicles to stop at toll plazas. It also minimises human intervention in toll collection.
What is the FASTag Annual Pass and how much does it cost?
The FASTag Annual Pass is a one-time payment option for non-commercial vehicle owners that covers toll crossings for one year or 200 plaza crossings, whichever comes first. It costs ₹3,075 and is activated via the Rajmargyatra App on the vehicle's existing FASTag.
Which other states already have MLFF toll plazas?
MLFF systems are operational in Gujarat (Chorayasi on NH-48), Delhi-NCR (Mundka-Bakkarwala on UER-II), Rajasthan (Shahjahanpur, Daulatpura, and Manoharpura on NH-48), and Haryana (Gharaunda on NH-44). Tamil Nadu is the first southern state to join the network.
