NHAI,DSC settle dispute over Gurgaon Expressway

Accepting the submissions of all parties,Justice S Murlidhar disposed of the DGSCL’s plea against NHAI’s contract termination order.

“An MoU — agreed to by NHAI,DGSCL and IDFC — has been signed today. With the signing of the MoU,it is understood that the termination notice of December 7,2011,and the subsequent termination order of February 18,2012,issued by NHAI to concessionaire stands withdrawn,” the court said.

“The parties will act in terms of the MoU,will be bound by its terms and will perform their obligations,” court said.

The NHAI had sent a termination notice to the concessionaire in February for violating the terms of agreement,and failing to improve services at the 32-lane toll plaza.

The notice was challenged by DGSCL in the High Court,which stayed the termination order and directed both the parties to resolve the dispute amicably.

As part of the settlement plan,NHAI asked the operator to reduce the minimum number of trips from 60 to 40 per month for local commuters,if they wanted to avail a 50 per cent concession. It also suggested that DGSCL provide free smart tags to local residents and introduce smart cards at nominal rates for those who do not use