KUALA LUMPUR: PLUS Malaysia Berhad will run a pilot Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) open payment system at nine toll plazas on the North-South Expressway (NSE) from Hutan Kampung in Kedah to Sungai Dua in Penang.
The company said that the initiative is an important milestone towards the future implementation of the Multi Lane Fast Flow (MLFF) in Malaysia.
"Under the initiative, registered users are no longer tied to specific lanes, gaining the flexibility to enter and exit through any toll lane at nine toll plazas: Hutan Kampung, Alor Setar Utara, Alor Setar Selatan, Pendang, Gurun, Sungai Petani Utara, Sungai Petani Selatan, Bertam and Sungai Dua," PLUS said in a statement on Friday (Jan 9), adding that the first stage spanning 87.7km is expected to ease toll plaza congestion and reduce unsafe last-minute lane changes.
"ANPR cameras installed at toll plazas will capture vehicle number plates, allowing toll charges to be automatically processed through a mobile-based payment platform linked to the user's preferred payment method.
"Supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, the system is designed to recognise vehicles under different operating conditions such as weather, speed, viewing angles and non-standard licence plates and continues to improve its accuracy over time," PLUS said.
To use the system, users need to download the JustGO Malaysia mobile app, register their vehicles, link their preferred payment method such as a debit or credit card.
"No additional devices are required and there is no upfront cost," PLUS said, adding that the JustGO Malaysia mobile app also offers added convenience through its e-invoicing facility.
PLUS also revealed that extensive testing of the system had been conducted since September 2024, with results indicating faster detection compared to existing tolling systems, as cameras provide wider coverage at toll plazas.
"Barriers will remain in place as the pilot progresses, with users advised to maintain speeds of 20 to 25 km/h when passing through toll plazas without stopping," it said.
Existing payment methods such as Touch 'n Go cards, SmartTAG or RFID, can still be used by highway users, PLUS added. – Bernama
