MCD Delays Barrier-Free Toll System at Delhi Borders
ECONOMY & POLICY

MCD Delays Barrier-Free Toll System at Delhi Borders

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) toll collection system at Delhi’s borders has been delayed from its originally planned 31 October launch. Equipment installation is under way at 20 border locations, while trials at major points, including Ghazipur, are scheduled to begin this week.

The system uses overhead gantries fitted with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers, sensors and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. These devices identify commercial vehicles entering Delhi and enable toll charges and the Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) to be collected digitally without vehicles stopping at a toll plaza.

An MCD official said the 20 major border points account for around 85 per cent of total traffic volume and would be made operational after the trial period. The trials will compare data captured by the new ANPR and RFID equipment with records from the existing RFID-based system before the system is activated across the sites.

The project has faced delays because approval was required for installations at toll plazas under the jurisdiction of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The approval process took about one and a half months, allowing installation work to begin only towards the end of September. Rainfall over three days also slowed work, according to the civic body.

The MCD introduced RFID collection at 13 major toll plazas in 2018, but insufficient tag balances and vehicles using express lanes without paying have continued to require manual collection. The resulting queues have increased fuel consumption and pollution, prompting concerns during Delhi’s winter pollution season and scrutiny from the Supreme Court. Under the new contract, the selected agency will collect tolls at 154 MCD plazas and install the MLFF system. The agency is to spend about Rs. 2 bn on the technology, while the contract is projected to generate annual toll revenue of around Rs. 9.64 bn for the MCD.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) toll collection system at Delhi’s borders has been delayed from its originally planned 31 October launch. Equipment installation is under way at 20 border locations, while trials at major points, including Ghazipur, are scheduled to begin this week. The system uses overhead gantries fitted with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers, sensors and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. These devices identify commercial vehicles entering Delhi and enable toll charges and the Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) to be collected digitally without vehicles stopping at a toll plaza. An MCD official said the 20 major border points account for around 85 per cent of total traffic volume and would be made operational after the trial period. The trials will compare data captured by the new ANPR and RFID equipment with records from the existing RFID-based system before the system is activated across the sites. The project has faced delays because approval was required for installations at toll plazas under the jurisdiction of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The approval process took about one and a half months, allowing installation work to begin only towards the end of September. Rainfall over three days also slowed work, according to the civic body. The MCD introduced RFID collection at 13 major toll plazas in 2018, but insufficient tag balances and vehicles using express lanes without paying have continued to require manual collection. The resulting queues have increased fuel consumption and pollution, prompting concerns during Delhi’s winter pollution season and scrutiny from the Supreme Court. Under the new contract, the selected agency will collect tolls at 154 MCD plazas and install the MLFF system. The agency is to spend about Rs. 2 bn on the technology, while the contract is projected to generate annual toll revenue of around Rs. 9.64 bn for the MCD.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Equipment

BorgWarner secures three turbocharger contracts with global powertrain leader

BorgWarner has secured three new turbocharger contracts with a global powertrain technology company. The wins comprise one contract for its variable turbine geometry (VTG) turbocharger and two for its wastegate turbocharger. The technologies will be deployed in the customer's light-vehicle gasoline platforms in South America and Europe, with production scheduled to begin in 2027.The VTG turbochargers are designed for gasoline engines operating under demanding conditions and high-boost pressure requirements. They are engineered to support Miller-cycle engines and withstand exhaust temperatures ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

International Digi Yatra Trials Begin at Seven Airports

India has begun trials of Digi Yatra for international passengers at seven airports, allowing eligible Indian passport holders to use facial recognition at selected airport checkpoints. The facility is currently limited to Indian nationals with e-passports travelling on selected international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo. The Civil Aviation Ministry announced the trials on 1 November, with testing scheduled through December 2026. A wider rollout is expected in 2027 after the ministry assesses passenger feedback gathered during the trial period, according to PTI. The system is inten..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Air India Plans More Wide-Body Jets, CEO Signals Profitability Soon

Air India is seeking to expand its order for wide-body aircraft as it works to increase international passenger traffic, chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam said on Tuesday. The Tata Group-owned carrier is also targeting a return to profitability in the near term, as its turnaround programme addresses fleet, network and service challenges. The comments came months after Gebremariam took charge of the airline. Gebremariam, who previously led Ethiopian Airlines, said the airline wanted more wide-body aircraft. Air India has held discussions with Boeing and Airbus while assessing the economics of..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code