Once a showcase project, the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway has landed in trouble, with the operator facing daily losses to the tune of Rs 55-60 lakh. The project connecting Delhi and Gurgaon in the National Capital Region was the first one constructed on build, operate and transfer basis that attracted a premium of Rs 61 crore in 2002.
The Punjab and Haryana High Courts yesterday restrained Delhi-Gurgaon Super Connectivity Limited (DGSCL), promoted by HS Narula’s DS Group, from collecting toll taxes at the Delhi-Gurgaon border toll plaza of the Delhi-Gurgaon Express-way on the grounds that the concessionaire had failed to avoid chaos and ensure free flow of traffic on the highway.
Senior company executives would be meeting National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials tomorrow after they discuss the issue in an internal meeting. The company has not yet decided if it would move the Supreme Court against this order or not. NHAI officials declined to comment on the issue. A statement issued by the company said it respected the decision and would discuss the issue with the NHAI for a long-term solution.
| HIGHWAY JOURNEY | |
| 2002 | Awarded under the National Highways Development Programme to Gurgaon Super Connectivity Ltd (DGSCL), with DGSCL paying Rs 61 crore to NHAI |
| 2008 | Expressway opened after a delay of 3 years |
| 2012 | Feb: NHAI issued termination notice to the operator for violating the terms of agreement. DGSCL approached the Delhi High Court which stayed the termination and called for an amicable resolution to the dispute Jan: DGSCL goes to Punjab/Haryana High Court against Gurgaon traffic police action on lifting toll gates |
The legal tangle in the dispute culminated into this decision after NHAI sent a termination notice to the company in February this year for violating the terms of agreement. This was challenged by the concessionaire in the high court which stayed the termination order and directed both the parties to resolve the dispute amicably. Though, later on, when an out of court settlement was being discussed by NHAI, the company did not agree on the proposed plan.
As part of the settlement plan, NHAI had asked the operator to reduce the number of minimum trips from 60 to 40 per month for local commuters if they wanted to avail the 50 per cent concession. Also, local residents should be given the electronic tag, which costs Rs 1,500, for free.
Fixing September 20 as the date for next hearing of the case, the high court has now directed the NHAI to hold meeting with the state government and DGSCL management to discuss the issue.
The court, on August 16, had asked the company to put additional collection windows and deploy personnel with hand held collection machines for smooth traffic movement.
The court order restraining toll collection came after the Gurgaon traffic police submitted its report, holding that the company lacked the required staff to deal with the problem. “We have submitted several plans to the NHAI for the expansion of the toll plaza since 2009 but till date these have not yet been approved," the company claimed in its statement.
Several other measures that would improve the commuting experience, including reducing congestion as part of the Settlement Agreement which is currently being reviewed by the Delhi High Court are being discussed with NHAI, it said. "These include review of entry/exit modifications on the expressway, installation of real time traffic monitoring systems, challan of cash users in tag lanes, blocking of the U turn for Ambience Mall and discounting policies to attract more tag users," DGSCL said.
