Delhi High Court likely to approve Delhi-Gurgaon expressway settlement today
With all stake holders IDFC, NHAI and DS Constructions arriving at a settlement to remove toll plazas on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, the HC likely to grant its consent today.
Delhi High Court has been told by the stakeholders in the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway project that a settlement between the IDFC-led consortium, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the concessionaire DS Constructions has been arrived at. The development is likely to pave the way for the settlement to be approved by the High Court on February 19.
Relief to commuters
Once the High Court approves the draft consent order, the toll plaza at 24 kms and 61 kms will be dismantled much to the relief of commuters facing peak-hour traffic jams. However, concerns of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) with respect to the arrears of toll tax are still to be settled. Accordingly, the high court has said that it will also take into consideration the demands of the local body before granting approval to the draft consent order between NHAI, IDFC-led consortium and DS Constructions.
SDMC’s concerns
During the proceedings, the SDMC counsel is believed to have raised concerns in the court that with the dismantling of the sixteen toll booths at the 24 Kms landmark, a significant number of commercial vehicles will escape without paying the necessary toll rates, thus, leading to a reduction in toll tax collections. The NHAI, in its response, has indicated that the SDMC is free to operate four toll booths at the right or left end of the road. This will help them collect the toll tax. The authority also suggested the use of placards just before the toll booth on the expressway to direct commercial vehicles to move towards the four toll booths for payment.
The SDMC was skeptical of the arrangement and said since it was not a party to the settlement; the local body is free to set up its own infrastructure to collect toll taxes. NHAI, not agreeing with the statement, objected, saying SDMC should not be allowed to set up more than four toll booths as the current 16 toll booths have been removed after considering the interest of the public at large.
Source: The Financial Express
Delhi high court, Delhi-Gurgaon expressway, Delhi-Gurgaon expressway settlement, DS Constructions, IDFC, NHAI, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Toll Plazas
