Traffic nightmare on Gurgaon expressway ends

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday gave its approval to the agreement, thus spelling an end to a two-year long litigation over the operation of the toll plaza.

Justice Manmohan Singh in his order approved the consent agreement, under which the IDFC has agreed to pay a sum of Rs 24.65 crore to DGSCL. It was submitted in court that it has already issued demand drafts to the tune of Rs 8.85 crore to DGSCL.  The affidavit also said the IDFC was bound to pay the remaining amount — Rs 15.8 crore — by way of demand draft before February 28, 2014.

However, users crossing the Kherki-Daula toll plaza at KM42 face a hike in toll rates, a statement by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Wednesday said.

The notification states that there will be no extra burden on the users between Delhi-Jaipur. Between Manesar and Gurgaon, users may avail discounts available to local traffic by taking a pass for 30 days.

The decision on whether to dismantle the toll plaza at 61KM has not yet been taken, with parties stating in the affidavit that it was up to the Roadways ministry to consider the issue.

Under the agreement, the NHAI has also offered to keep four lanes on the left for the South Municipal Corporation to collect tax from commercial vehicles entering Delhi.

The South corporation has raised certain objections to the arrangement, arguing that it would not be possible to collect the tax as there would be no mechanism to ensure that commercial vehicles keep to the dedicated toll lanes.

The court will now hear the plea filed by South corporation and toll collection agent SMS AAMW Tollways on Thursday.