Expressway row not over, SDMC seeks access of all 16 toll plazas
Row over toll plazas on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway seemed to be over, the next day South Delhi Municipal Corporation asserted in the Delhi High Court that four proposed toll lanes, out of 16, would be grossly inadequate to levy tax on commercial vehicles entering the national capital.
The court had recorded a consent order in terms of a tripartite settlement yesterday, among NHAI, Delhi-Gurgaon Super Connectivity Ltd (DGSCL) and lead financier IDFC and said 12 of existing 16 toll plazas, causing huge traffic snarls, would be dismantled.
On the other hand, SDMC today told Justice Manmohan Singh that while trucks and tankers can be identified and stopped for not paying the entry fee,but it would be difficult to catch hold of and sought smaller commercial vehicles, like cabs, by use of all the 16 toll plazas on the highway instead of merely four.
NHAI said annoyed over the SDMC’s claim, it is not obligated in any way to hand over any infrastructure to Delhi government or SDMC and also that the law provides for smooth, unobstructed flow of traffic on highways and presence of toll plazas prevented the same. The high court too was of the view that handing over of all 16 toll plazas would not be possible.
Justice Singh said, “That is not possible”, SDMC was asked by the court to start right away collecting the tax on vehicles entering Delhi when the authority sought more time to work out the modalities.
By way of a consent order, yesterday, the court said 12 of the 16 toll plazas on the expressway would go. SMS Infrastructure Limited, to collect entry tax from commercial vehicles coming to Delhi, on the other hand, the remaining four lanes was allowed to be used by SDMC and its contractor.
SDMC submitted before the court today that collection of entry tax from four lanes “is not possible” as it would be difficult to segregate and divert the commercial vehicles, like cabs, from other cars and would lead to jam.
Source: The Economic Times
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