Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Tamil Nadu Plans QR Permits to Track Mineral Transport
Tamil Nadu wants trucks carrying sand, soil and other minerals to use digital permits with QR codes.
These permits would replace paper passes.
Officials could scan them to check where the minerals came from and how much is being carried.
Weighbridges would compare the truck’s actual load with the permit.
A control room would help monitor trucks and detect overloaded vehicles.
GPS devices would also help track journeys.
The plan is meant to reduce fake permits and improve collection of royalties and GST.
Truck operators support online documents but worry they could be blamed for papers falsified by contractors.
They also want better checks at quarries and crusher units.
Tamil Nadu plans to replace paper mineral transit passes with QR-coded online permits.
Permits will be generated through the Mineral Management System portal and checked against quarry and load details.
Connected weighbridges and a control room are intended to identify mismatched or overloaded shipments.
Mineral-transport trucks must install GPS devices by September 30, according to the department.
Operators support digital permits but seek stronger verification, quarry oversight and protection from fraudulent documents.
- Who
- The Tamil Nadu Natural Resources Department, Minister D.K. Prabhu, mineral transporters and lorry operators.
- What
- The government plans to introduce QR-coded online permits, linked weighbridges and GPS tracking for mineral transport.
- When
- The department has not announced a launch date; trucks have until September 30 to install GPS devices.
- Where
- Across Tamil Nadu, including mineral quarries, crusher units and transport routes; a fake-pass case was reported in Thiruvallur district.
- Why
- To prevent forged transit passes, verify mineral loads, monitor transport and improve royalty and GST collection.
Government plan
Operator concerns
Effectiveness of digital permits
Government plan
Officials say QR permits, linked weighbridges, GPS tracking and a control room can improve oversight and help prevent illegal shipments.
Operator concerns
Lorry operators say digital permits will have limited value unless quarry gates, crusher units and weighbridges reliably verify every shipment.
Responsibility for fraudulent documents
Government plan
The system is intended to make permit validity and load details easier to check.
Operator concerns
Operators want electronic documents to include confirmation from a government official so drivers and owners are not held responsible for fraudulent papers supplied by contractors.
Controlling illegal extraction
Government plan
The department is expanding portal-linked infrastructure from existing limestone sites to locations producing minor minerals.
Operator concerns
Operators say illegal stone quarries remain active and have called for closer oversight and government-run quarries supplying manufactured and plastering sand.
- Permit system
- QR-coded online permits will replace manual paper transit documents.
- Digital platform
- Permits will be generated through the Mineral Management System, or MIMAS, portal.
- Verification
- Permit details will be checked against the transported quantity and source quarry.
- Weighbridges
- Weighbridges will be connected to MIMAS to compare actual loads with permit records.
- GPS deadline
- Mineral-carrying trucks have until September 30 to install GPS devices.
- Fake-pass case
- About 14 soil-carrying trucks were detained in Thiruvallur district over allegedly fake passes and permits.
- Launch date
- No launch date has yet been announced.