MCD Approves Digital Challans and Barrier-Free Tolls at Delhi Borders
On Thursday, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) approved a proposal to amend its toll tax bye-laws, paving the way to issue digital challans and implement a barrier-free toll collection system at Delhi's borders, including major entry points like Rajokri, Ghazipur, and Kundli. The decision aims to reduce traffic congestion and vehicular emissions by eliminating physical toll booths for commercial vehicles.
The approved amendment to the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Toll Tax) Bye-Laws, 2007, will grant the civic body legal powers to enforce penalties under the upcoming Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system. The MCD has already floated tenders to select contractors to develop and operate the MLFF system, with the bidding process scheduled to close by June 30.
Under the new barrier-free framework, commercial vehicles will no longer need to stop at physical checkpoints. Instead, overhead gantries equipped with RFID readers, sensors, and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will automatically read FASTags and vehicle registration numbers, deducting toll charges while vehicles maintain normal speeds.
The transition will occur in phases across Delhi's 156 border toll points. The first phase will see 20 major toll plazas—including Kundli, Rajokri, Tikri, Aya Nagar, Kalindi Kunj, Kapashera, Shahdara, Ghazipur, the DND Flyway, and the Badarpur-Faridabad crossings—become barrier-free by October, ahead of the winter pollution season. The remaining border locations are expected to be upgraded by December 2026.
Currently, third-party contractors manually halt commercial vehicles at border checkpoints to collect tolls, which frequently causes long traffic jams. The new system is designed to ease this congestion, particularly during peak hours, and lower emissions from idling vehicles during the capital's annual pollution season.
To address toll evasion, the amended bye-laws will enable automated enforcement. If a vehicle has an insufficient FASTag balance or an invalid RFID tag, an e-challan will be generated automatically. Vehicle owners must pay the unpaid toll and any penalty within 72 hours.
Failure to pay within the 72-hour window will result in an electronic warrant of distress, allowing authorities to intercept and impound the vehicle. Existing provisions allow for penalties up to five times the unpaid toll amount. The proposed amendments will now be sent to the Delhi government for final notification.
