Politics · India · 1 hr ago
Delhi's barrier-free toll system delayed as trials begin at Ghazipur
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has delayed its barrier-free toll system for commercial vehicles entering the city.
The system uses cameras and electronic readers to identify vehicles and collect tolls without making them stop.
Trials are expected to start at Ghazipur toll plaza this week, and officials say equipment is being installed at 20 major border points.
Those locations handle about 85% of the traffic volume, and the system could begin operating there after trials and any needed adjustments.
The existing system can require vehicles to stop when payments fail or drivers lack enough money on their electronic tags, causing queues and adding to fuel use and air pollution.
The wider rollout across Delhi’s border toll points is expected to take another three to four months.
Delhi’s Municipal Corporation has delayed its barrier-free toll system, which was originally planned to launch on October 31.
Trials are expected to begin at the Ghazipur toll plaza within one or two days.
The system is being installed at 20 major border points, where officials say about 85% of traffic volume is recorded.
If trials succeed, the system is expected to operate at those 20 points, while smaller border locations will take longer.
The technology uses cameras, sensors and RFID readers to identify vehicles and collect tolls electronically without stopping them.
- Who
- The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is installing the system for commercial vehicles entering Delhi.
- What
- The rollout of a barrier-free electronic toll system has been delayed, and trials are due to begin at Ghazipur.
- When
- The system was originally planned to launch on October 31. Trials are expected to start within one or two days of the article’s publication on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- At Delhi’s border toll points, beginning with Ghazipur.
- Why
- Rainfall delayed installation, and officials say trials are needed to check the system’s data against the existing RFID system.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An RFID system was installed at 13 major toll plazas to support cashless toll collection and payment of the Environment Compensation Charge.
The Supreme Court directed MCD to urgently consider temporarily closing or shifting nine toll plazas amid reports of queues and worsening pollution.
Hindustan Times reported that work on the barrier-free toll system had yet to begin.
The planned launch date for the new toll system passed without the system launching.
Hindustan Times reported that trials were expected to begin at Ghazipur within one or two days.
- Responsible agency
- Municipal Corporation of Delhi
- Initial trial location
- Ghazipur toll plaza
- Installation sites
- 20 major border points
- Traffic share
- About 85% of overall traffic volume is observed at the 20 major points
- Original launch plan
- October 31
- Technology
- RFID readers, sensors and automatic number plate recognition cameras
What people are saying
Our equipment installation with ANPR cameras is nearly complete on major border entry points. We will need trials to cross check that data being captured by the system is accurate in comparison to the existing RFID based system. At border points like Ghazipur, the trial will start in one to two days. If the trials are successful, the system will be implemented at these 20 points within this month. The remaining smaller border points will need more time.
Why can’t the officials say that till January, there will be no toll plaza?