Booth-less toll fee collection at Tamil Nadu’s Paranur: how does the multi-lane free flow system work?

The Paranur toll plaza on the Chennai-Tiruchi National Highway, on September 30, 2026, became Tamil Nadu’s first booth-less facility to collect toll fee from road users through the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) system.

MLFF, an advanced contactless and barrierless tolling system, eliminates the need for vehicles to stop at toll plazas by using advanced technologies based on FASTag, radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, and ANPR technology for seamless electronic toll collection.

Why the shift to MLFF?

The primary factor is uninterrupted traffic flow. Vehicles no longer need to stop or slow down at toll plazas, thus leading to smoother traffic movement and reduced congestion.

Second, operational efficiency and cost savings. Reduced reliance on toll booth infrastructure and manpower results in lower operating costs.

And finally, environmental benefits. Smoother traffic flow reduces vehicular idling, cutting down emissions and contributing to cleaner air near tolling points.

How does MLFF work?

While conventional fee plazas rely on physical booths, gates, and lane infrastructure, under the MLFF system, high-performance RFID readers detect the FASTag affixed on vehicles at high speeds. At the same time, ANPR cameras capture license plate data while radar and LiDAR systems accurately detect and classify vehicles.

MLFF equipment creates a toll transaction by reading the FASTag as well as the vehicle number plate and deducts the fee from the FASTag. It also captures evidence of vehicles where payment fails. The MLFF system works across all weather and lighting conditions, round the clock.