A hard look at the “annual feature” of cruelty air pollution in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a wide-ranging set of directions aimed at providing pragmatic solutions, including the potential temporary closure or relocation of nine key toll booths managed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
The court expressed strong concern over massive traffic congestion at entry points, noting that the resulting long queues of idling vehicles significantly worsen vehicular emissions and the overall pollution levels.
The Supreme Court specifically directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the MCD to urgently consider the temporary closure or relocation of nine toll booths on the capital’s borders.
Weekly deadline for MCD
During the hearing, the monitoring committee was informed that the MCD toll collection points, including one at the Gurugram border, were causing traffic snarls for hours. She questioned the necessity of the current tolling model, noting that while tolls generate income, they also lead to litigation and serious environmental damage.
The monitoring committee suggested that the MCD come up with a “concrete plan” to ensure “absolutely no toll plaza by January 31 next year”. The MCD was given a strict deadline and directed to take a decision to temporarily close the nine toll plazas within a week and place the decision on the court record.
The court also suggested that the NHAI look into managing these plazas and diverting a portion of the collection to the MCD to make up for the temporary loss of revenue.
“We have also requested NHAI to consider shifting the nine toll booths of MCD in Delhi to such locations as can be occupied by NHAI and a portion of the toll it collects may be diverted to MCD to compensate for the perceived temporary loss,” it said.
“Meanwhile, the MCD is directed to cooperate in the matter and consider suspending the toll booths for an interim period; such a decision will be taken within a week and will be recorded,” the SC said.
Stricter measures for older vehicles
In a major amendment to its interim order on August 12, the Supreme Court allowed authorities to take enforcement action against older vehicles that do not meet Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) emission norms. The move targets pre-BS-IV vehicles, which are considered to be disproportionately contributing to the deterioration of air quality.
