MCD to continue with existing toll agency as city prepares for ANPR rollout

New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Friday approved a six-month extension for the agency managing toll collection at 156 plazas across the capital, with the current contract set to end on April 9. The extension will remain in force until a fresh tender is finalised or the six-month period lapses, whichever comes first, and the civic body will continue with the existing annual revenue arrangement of around Rs 864 crore. Supreme Court had earlier suggested that MCD consider removing nine toll plazas located on national highways entering Delhi to help reduce traffic congestion. Based on a report from the Commission for Air Quality Management, the apex court also asked MCD to explain why immediate steps should not be taken to install and fully operationalise a barrier-free Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system integrated with RFID and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) at all toll points by Oct this year to ease congestion at Delhi's border entry points. The court added that if MCD failed to meet the MLFF deadline, it could be directed to restrict toll collection at the nine plazas only to vehicles liable to pay environment compensation charges during the peak winter months. MCD officials said the civic body is already working on it and plans to introduce ANPR systems across 156 toll points. Once implemented, vehicles will not have to stop at plazas, as cameras will scan number plates and deduct toll amounts from FASTag accounts linked to the vehicle registration number. The request for proposal for installing the system has been issued, officials said. The current toll operator was awarded the contract in 2021 for a three-year term. Since 2024, the corporation has been renewing the agreement every six months due to delays in finalising a fresh tender. Meanwhile, Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said the House has cleared a proposal to remodel an existing sludge pump house and construct a sewage treatment plant to supply treated water to municipal parks in Sunder Nagri, Shastri Park, IP Extension, Laxmi Nagar and adjoining areas. The House has also approved a plan to involve NGOs, resident welfare societies and self-help groups in adopting and maintaining cremation grounds, burial grounds and cemeteries across the city. Twenty-four organisations have been selected for the initiative. As part of a pilot project, two NGOs will introduce 100% upla (cow dung cake)-based cremation at the Green Park cremation ground and the Dwarka Sector 24 cremation ground to promote environmentally sustainable last rites.