Chennai, Nov 25 (NationPress) In a significant effort to combat corruption, eliminate manual processes, and alleviate traffic congestion at state border crossings, the Commissionerate of Transport and Road Safety in Tamil Nadu has sanctioned the deployment of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at 22 Regional Transport Office (RTO) check posts throughout the state.

Additionally, speed-detection cameras will be set up at nine strategic locations.

Officials indicate that this initiative represents a crucial advancement toward digitizing vehicle oversight and minimizing delays—especially at heavily trafficked border check posts such as Bannari, Hosur, Serkadu, and Pethikuppam.

With the introduction of this system, both commercial drivers and tourist vehicles will have the capability to pay road taxes online, allowing them to proceed without leaving their vehicles.

While online road tax payments have been available for some time, commercial vehicles, particularly omnibuses registered in other states, have often experienced significant delays.

Many operators claim that these delays, even after demonstrating proof of online tax payment, are frequently associated with attempts at bribery by officials at certain check posts.

The ANPR and speed detection systems will be integrated with the Central Monitoring System at the State Transport Authority (STA) office located in Guindy.

This consolidated digital platform will facilitate real-time monitoring of vehicle movements, provide ANPR analytics, speed violation alerts, and manage evidence through video and image documentation. Moreover, it will interface with the VAHAN portal for vehicle registration and the SARATHI portal for driving license information.

Beyond confirming whether road taxes are paid before a vehicle enters Tamil Nadu, the ANPR cameras will autonomously issue challans for violations such as riding without a helmet, using mobile phones while driving, not wearing seat belts, and other infractions.

Speed-detection cameras will be strategically placed at nine locations: Pethikuppam-Incoming, Poonamallee, Tiruttani, Thiruchitrambalam (Villupuram), Katpadi, Hosur-Incoming, and Hosur-Outgoing (Vellore), as well as KG Chavadi-Incoming and Outgoing (Coimbatore).

The 22 RTO check posts manage vehicles entering from neighboring states for temporary permits and road tax collection. Since 2023, all types of temporary tourist permits—including those for motor cabs, maxi cabs, and omnibuses—have been issued online.

Temporary permits for out-of-state goods vehicles are also processed at these facilities, which collectively generated Rs 230.04 crore in revenue during 2024–25. The state’s decision follows recent raids by the DVAC, including the recovery of Rs 1.72 lakh from a Motor Vehicle Inspector at the Poonamallee check post and Rs 95,000 from the Christianpet check post, underscoring ongoing corruption issues within the sector.