New Delhi: Commercial vehicles entering Delhi may soon pass through border toll points smoothly as Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) plans to convert all 154 entry points into barrier-less multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) tolling corridors by December.
The civic body has initiated the process of appointing an agency to implement the project and commission the system at 20 major plazas, including the NH-9 corridor, by October-end, and the rest by December-end.
Purpose and Benefits
The move, being undertaken in compliance with directives of Supreme Court and National Highways Authority of India, aims at reducing chronic congestion at the city’s borders, contributing to pollution levels, and improving toll collection efficiency.
How the System Works
Under the proposed system, tolls will be deducted automatically while vehicles are in motion through a combination of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. Vehicles equipped with RFID tags will be charged as they pass under overhead gantries. Simultaneously, high-definition ANPR cameras will capture registration numbers for verification and enforcement, said officials. The system is similar to FASTag-based tolling on national highways, but is designed for seamless, barrier-less movement.
Agency Responsibilities
According to the MCD tender, the agency will be responsible for designing, developing, commissioning, operating and maintaining the MLFF infrastructure for five years. The scope includes field surveys, engineering design and installation of gantry-mounted equipment, integration with the existing RFID ecosystem, and full operation and maintenance support.
Equipment and Infrastructure
Each entry point will be equipped with RFID readers and antennas, high-definition ANPR cameras, surveillance cameras and infrared illumination units. To ensure uninterrupted operations, two overhead gantries — one primary and one backup — will be installed in each direction around 200 metres before the toll plazas.
Enforcement and Recovery
Digital notices will be generated for vehicles whose passage through the MLFF network is recorded but whose applicable toll tax or environment compensation charge (ECC) remains unpaid. Recovery proceedings will be carried out in accordance with Delhi Municipal Corporation Act 1957 and Delhi Municipal Corporation (Toll Tax) Bye-laws 2007.
Current Challenges
Currently, Delhi’s 154 border entry points comprise 244 toll lanes where toll tax and ECC are collected from commercial vehicles through an RFID-based system. However, vehicles frequently have to slow down or stop for payment verification, resulting in bottlenecks at several points.
Expected Impact
Sources said the new technology was expected to significantly ease traffic congestion at busy points such as Ghazipur, Rajokri, Badarpur and the Delhi-Gurgaon corridor.
Stay updated with the latest Delhi news. Download the TOI App.
About the Author: Vibha Sharma serves as a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, having dedicated 18 years to journalism. She has carved a niche in civic affairs and urban infrastructure reporting, delving into the fundamental aspects of urban administration, including sanitation, taxation, city planning, infrastructure and environmental sustainability, while examining Delhi's grassroots operations. As a veteran civic journalist, her reporting illuminates the daily urban challenges confronting Delhi, encompassing municipal taxation frameworks, circular economy, infrastructure enhancement and land utilisation regulations.
