MCD Toll Plaza: Definition and Toll Rates

Key Takeaways
 

• MCD toll plaza collects fees from vehicles entering Delhi through designated entry points.
   
• It generates huge daily revenue that supports the city’s infrastructure and services.
   
• It adds a regular cost burden for truck drivers and transporters using Delhi’s roads.

MCD toll plaza is a collection point managed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, where vehicles pay toll charges for using specific roads and entry points in the city.

Take the case of Ravi, a 45-year-old truck driver from Ghaziabad. Every five days, he drives fresh vegetables to Azadpur Mandi in Delhi. To enter the city, he passes through the Ghazipur MCD Toll Plaza, paying ₹900 each time. Over a month, his 22 trips add up to a heavy toll bill:
 

Now scale this to the city level. Every day, about 1,20,000 trucks enter Delhi, paying an average toll of ₹800 each. That means:

This shows how massive toll collections are and why they matter for both truck drivers and the city’s administration.

The blog will explore how MCD toll plazas function, why they are important, and their impact on both commuters and city administration.

What is an MCD Toll Plaza?

Let’s say Ravi, a 45-year-old truck driver from Ghaziabad. He brings vegetables to Azadpur Mandi in Delhi every five days. Every time he enters Delhi through the Ghazipur toll plaza, he pays ₹900 as MCD toll (called green tax). 

In a month, he spends ₹19,800 on tolls! This money helps MCD maintain roads and reduce pollution. Now imagine 1,20,000 trucks like Ravi’s entering Delhi daily, each paying ₹800. That adds up to ₹9.6 crore every day for city maintenance.

Key Highlights of MCD Toll Plaza:
 

• Designed for toll collection from commercial vehicles only.
   
• Acts as a green tax for environmental compensation.
   
• Uses FASTag, RFID, and handheld devices for toll collection.
   
• MCD targets ₹900 crore+ annually through these plazas.
   
• Heavy traffic and delays often occur at manually operated lanes.

Toll Collection Methods at MCD Plazas:

MCD toll plazas use different methods to collect tolls, ranging from modern digital systems to traditional cash payments.

While digital methods like FASTag and the MCD TOLL app make payments quicker and smoother, manual collection often slows traffic and causes long queues.

What Is The History and Regulation of MCD Toll Collection?

The Journey of MCD Toll Collection: A Simple Example

Back in 2012, Kamal, a truck driver from Haryana, waited 30 minutes at Delhi’s Tikri border and paid ₹600 in cash each time. It wasted his time and fuel. 

Now in 2025, with FASTag and RFID, Kamal pays ₹850 quickly without stopping. Every day, over 1,20,000 trucks enter Delhi, and MCD collects around ₹9.6 crore daily to fix roads and reduce pollution.

Key Developments:
 

• Focus on commercial vehicle tolling only
   
• Move from manual to FASTag/RFID systems
   
• Ongoing upgrade of 156 toll points
   
• Push for GPS-based systems for seamless tolling

Evolution of MCD Toll System

The MCD toll system has gone through different phases, moving from cash-based booths to modern digital solutions.

This evolution shows how Delhi’s toll collection has become faster, more transparent, and better integrated with national systems like NHAI.

Why Is MCD Hiring a New Agency to Manage Delhi’s Toll Plazas?

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is all set to revamp toll collection by hiring a new agency to operate 154 toll plazas, up from 124, across the city’s borders. These plazas collect entry fees and Environmental Compensation Charges (ECC) from commercial vehicles entering Delhi.

Let’s understand this with an example:

Kamal, a goods truck driver from Haryana, enters Delhi daily through the Tikri Border. Earlier, he waited 30+ minutes and paid ₹600 in cash. With the new system, his FASTag-enabled truck passes in seconds, and ₹850 is auto-deducted, saving time and fuel.

Key Highlights:
 

MCD expects to collect ₹17.5 crore/week with this upgrade. A pre-bid meeting was held on Feb 16, and the last date to submit tenders was February 29, 2024.

Locations of MCD Toll Plazas in Delhi:

Here's the information about the key locations and upgrade details of MCD toll plazas in Delhi:
 

The wide network of MCD toll plazas across Delhi plays a vital role in regulating commercial traffic, and ongoing upgrades are aimed at making collections faster, more transparent, and commuter-friendly.

Vehicles Exempted from MCD Toll:

Here is the information about the various vehicle categories that are exempt from the MCD toll in Delhi:
 

Several categories of vehicles are exempt from toll charges, ensuring that essential services, government duties, and special needs transport can move freely without delays or additional costs.

Bonus Tip: Exempted vehicles may still require a FASTag for identification and entry logging

What Are MCD Toll Rates?

Here is a table showing the MCD Toll Rates based on vehicle type and visit frequency:
 

Important Notes:

• These rates apply to vehicles entering Delhi through MCD toll plazas.
   
• In addition to toll charges, the MCD also collects an Environmental Compensation Charge (ECC), which varies depending on the vehicle type and the goods being transported.

Bonus Tip: Toll rates may differ slightly at certain plazas, so it’s recommended to check the exact charges at the specific toll point you are using.

How MCD Toll Rates Are Determined?

For Example, Arjun, a delivery truck driver from Faridabad, enters Delhi through the Badarpur toll plaza five times a week. His 6-wheeler truck is charged ₹300 per trip.

In a month, Arjun pays ₹6,000 in tolls. To save money, he opts for an MCD monthly pass costing ₹9,000, allowing unlimited entries.

In comparison, a taxi entering daily pays ₹100 per trip, which adds up to ₹2,000 monthly. Larger vehicles pay more due to their road impact.

Key Factors Influencing MCD Toll Rates:
 

• Vehicle Type: Bigger = higher toll
   
• Distance Covered: Longer routes can mean higher fees
   
• Plaza Location: Rates may differ across borders
   
• Green Tax: Aims to reduce pollution
   
• Monthly Passes: Cheaper for frequent users

Sample MCD Toll Charges
 

Tips to Save Money and Time at MCD Toll Plazas

Crossing MCD toll plazas can be both time-consuming and costly, especially for frequent travellers and commercial drivers. With a few smart practices, you can reduce delays and cut down on expenses.

• Use FASTag: FASTag is accepted at MCD toll plazas, allowing faster passage and avoiding long queues.
   
• Buy Monthly Passes: Regular commuters and truckers can save significantly by opting for monthly or return passes.
   
• Plan Off-Peak Travel: Travelling during less busy hours helps you avoid traffic jams at toll points.
   
• Check for Exemptions: Some vehicles, like those carrying essential goods, may qualify for exemptions; always confirm in advance.
   
• Keep Change Ready: If paying in cash, carry exact change to speed up transactions and avoid overpaying.

By using digital payments, travel planning, and pass options, you can save both time and money at MCD toll plazas while ensuring smoother journeys.

Conclusion

MCD toll plazas help Delhi stay clean and its roads well-maintained. They charge commercial vehicles like trucks and taxis based on size and trips. Emergency and defence vehicles don’t have to pay. With FASTag and RFID, payments are quicker now. Every toll, like Ravi’s or Arjun’s, adds up to help the city. So, your toll truly makes a difference!

FAQs:

Q1. Who has to pay the MCD toll in Delhi?
Commercial vehicles such as trucks, lorries, and tempos entering Delhi must pay the MCD toll.

Q2. Are private cars charged at MCD toll plazas?
No, private cars and two-wheelers are generally exempt from MCD toll charges.

Q3. Can I use FASTag at MCD toll plazas?
Yes, most MCD toll plazas accept FASTag for quicker, cashless payments.

Q4. Why does MCD collect toll separately from highway tolls?
MCD toll is collected to regulate traffic and fund municipal services, while highway tolls recover road construction costs.

Q5. Do daily commuters get any concession at MCD toll plazas?
Yes, frequent users can opt for daily, return, or monthly passes to reduce costs.

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