Delhi Air Pollution: Why Are Experts Demanding Permanent Ban On MCD Tolls Amid Toxic Smog?

While Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) are grappling with severe pollution, with vehicle emissions being a major contributor—long traffic jams plagued by toll collection at all entry points into the city have become a critical issue. Last week, addressing this very problem, the Supreme Court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to temporarily relocate toll booths. Environmentalists, however, have long demanded their permanent removal. It is a matter of serious concern that toll booths at the capital's entry points cause gridlock daily.

Commuters Struggle With Congestion

Drivers entering Delhi from the NCR face delays ranging from 30 minutes to an hour during morning and evening peak hours. This persists despite the installation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems at 13 major entry points, which were intended to ensure non-stop traffic flow. Yet, long queues remain a reality.

This raises pertinent questions: What is the hurdle in removing these toll booths or making them fully automated? Who is responsible?

Furthermore, what concrete measures can be taken to eliminate human-based toll collection without reducing the MCD's revenue?

(Jam at the toll booth near Kalindi Kunj. (Image Source: Jagran)

The Financial Argument And Solutions

There is a consensus that toll booths cause daily inconvenience. Since NCR residents frequently travel to Delhi for work or meetings, valuable time is wasted in jams. A potential solution lies with the Central Finance Commission, formed every four years to distribute revenue for development. Just as special financial components were provided to states like Punjab during the terrorism era to cover law and order costs, a similar provision exists for compensation. The MCD needs to calculate the annual loss incurred by removing tolls so the Commission can recommend a specific grant to cover this deficit.

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Finding a permanent solution is the need of the hour. While debates on social media often suggest making tolls free when lines get long, this rarely happens in practice. Commuters are left paying expensive tolls while burning fuel and increasing pollution in traffic jams.

Toll booth And ECC developments

Technological Alternatives And Historical Context

To move forward, authorities must aim to remove tolls or end human-based collection while protecting MCD’s finances. This situation mirrors the old 'Octroi' (Chungi) system, which was abolished due to similar issues of congestion and corruption. The modern solution, as suggested by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, is indirect collection. Using software linked to common vehicle stickers, taxes could be deducted automatically as vehicles pass under a boom barrier, with the MCD’s share transferred directly to its account. Alternatively, the government could increase annual grants or transfer duties to the MCD, a process initiated when Octroi was removed.

Supreme Court Intervention And Legal Paradoxes

On December 17, the Supreme Court ordered the suspension of nine tolls, acknowledging that they exacerbate traffic and pollution. However, critics argue that all 156 MCD toll points and other border tolls should be closed. Pollution knows no borders, yet commuters are taxed by the MCD, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and neighboring states like UP and Haryana.

The situation involves multiple layers of collection that often defy rules. For instance, regulations state that NHAI tolls cannot be established within 10 km of municipal limits, yet this is frequently ignored. Commuters at borders like Mahipalpur, Badarpur, Ghazipur, and Tikri face immense jams daily. Furthermore, the logic of tolls within the NCR—an integrated economic zone—is questionable.

Toll Fee Details

Economic Inefficiency And Corruption

The Supreme Court has ended the exemption on the Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) for essential goods vehicles starting October 2025. While ECC collects roughly Rs 180-200 crore annually meant for pollution control, only about 50 per cent is used for that purpose. Over the last decade, the corporation has diverted roughly Rs 650 crore to other heads. Allegations persist that while official toll revenue is shown as Rs 900 crore, actual collection exceeds Rs 2,000 crore, with the surplus siphoned off by corruption involving politicians and bureaucrats.

GST And Future Recommendations

The implementation of GST in 2017 was meant to create a single national market, and levying toll taxes on commercial vehicles contradicts the GST principle of a 'one-point tax.' The 5th Delhi Finance Commission has recommended abolishing the MCD toll tax. Additionally, the new UER-II road imposes high tolls on Delhi residents despite being built with public funds (DDA), forcing traffic into local colonies to avoid charges. Finally, there are serious concerns regarding safety, with police reports suggesting that aggressive elements and criminals are often employed as toll collectors at these borders.

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