Considering difficulties being faced by owners of commercial vehicles and taxis in getting pre-registered and subsequently obtaining “Radio Frequency Identification Device” (RFID) tags for entry into Delhi from 13 toll plazas, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has extended the last date for pre-registration and subsequent issuance of RFID tags from August 16 to August 23.

The decision was taken after transporters and their unions requested Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) to put off the deadline.

A senior SDMC official said after the deadline, all commercial vehicles entering the city without RFID tag and sufficient recharge amount will be bound to pay penalty double of specified rates during first week, four times of specified rates during second week and six times of specified rates during third week.

 “Environment  Compensation Charge (ECC) and toll rates have been fixed depending on the vehicle category,” he added.

It may be recalled that the RFID system implementation was made mandatory for commercial vehicles entering Delhi for which arrangements of the pre-registration of commercial vehicles and sale of RFID tags and its recharge arrangements had been made at toll plazas.

The official said the response in getting commercial vehicles pre-registered and subsequent issuance of RFID tags is encouraging as around 50, 000 RFID tags have been issued in the last six days.

The civic body introduced this system with an aim to curb air pollution, congestion and to reduce time taken to get commercial vehicles enter Delhi. The RFID based toll system is already functional at Kundli, Rajokari, Tikri, Aya Nagar, Kalindi Kunj, Kapasehra, Shahdara (main), Shahdara (flyover), Ghazipur (main), Ghazipur (old), DND Flyway, Badarpur-Faridabad (main) and Badarpur-Faridabad (flyover) toll plazas. The 13 entry points cater to the entry of around 85 per cent of traffic entering Delhi.

“The RFID-based toll system comprises of 58 RFID lanes and 33 free lanes. A web portal has also been setup to enable the users to recharge their individual RFID tag accounts and keeping track of their transactions,” said the official, adding that the sensor of RFID system can read the tag on the commercial vehicle and allow entry of vehicles in Delhi without human intervention.

He said the RFID tag will allow for a database to be prepared of the vehicle and the owner; this will improve compliance in the future as defaulting vehicles can be penalised.

Rates of toll tax in respect to specified commercial vehicles entering Delhi from all 13 toll points. (amount in rupees)