Delhi's South civic body yet to send proposal for Radio Frequency Identification installation

A year after the South civic body had planned to install electronic devices to automatically check the data and weight of trucks entering the 13 busiest border points of the national Capital, the proposal is yet to be sent for approval pending the formation of the corporation's Standing Committee.

The installation of automated RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system was necessary to ensure cleaner air in the city, which chokes due to high pollution levels every winter. However, even after last year's survey of the number of trucks entering Delhi every day, the city lags on schedule to prepare for cleaner air before the next winter arrives.

According to corporation officials, the proposal was delayed as a case in the matter was pending in the Supreme Court, which was settled only this month.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) -- a Supreme Court mandated body to monitor pollution levels -- had asked the civic body to install RFID at these points by March to ensure only destined trucks to enter the city and conform to environmental norms.

RFID also allows issuing a penalty to non-confirming trucks on the spot.

"The project was stuck because of the court case as one of the bidders had challenged the request for proposal (RFP) prepared by the civic body last year. His plea was rejected by the court. Now, the standing committee is expected to be constituted around May 30 and that is when we plan to put the proposal for approval," said a senior officer.

The standing committee is dissolved every year after March when fresh elections are held for the post of mayor and member of the standing committee which approves all projects.

"Within a month of receiving approval, we will award work for the project," the officer said.

The civic body was allowed to procure the devices from the environment compensation cess (ECC) collected from the toll points.

"The commissioner of South Corporation has informed that they are waiting for the formation of the standing committee after which the proposal will be sent for approval," said Bhure Lal, chairman, EPCA.

The EPCA in a report filed in the SC had suggested RFID be installed at the 13 border entry points which get 80 per cent of the total commercial traffic entering the city to including --- DND, Kapashera (old NH-8), Rajokri (NH-8), Shahdara flyover and Aya Nagar (Mehrauli-Gurgaon road), among others.