Court issues new orders over expressway, NHAI yet to act

20 January, 2013

Months after declaring it toll-free for a fortnight, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday issued new orders asking National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to take control of the Gurgaon-Delhi Expressway and maintain free flow of traffic.

According to The Times of India, the court during last hearing told NHAI to improve the traffic condition on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway with the collective efforts of concessioner Delhi Gurgaon Super Connectivity Limited, Gurgaon Traffic Police and other concerned organisations and improve the traffic condition on Sirhaul Toll plaza where commuters get tuck for at least half an hour.

“This is very good decision from HC as Sirhaul Toll plaza is a nightmare for all of us. I always get stuck there for at least 30 minutes every time I try to cross it," MCG councillor Seema Pahuja told this citizen journalist .

RS Rathee of Gurgaon Council who is also fighting to make Delhi-Gurgaon e-way toll-free welcomed the court decision but was not fully satisfied. "We have been trying to make this e-way toll free from last one year and fighting against the concessioner DGSCL who is only focusing on making money and not the convenience of commuters," Rathee said. He added that making the e-way toll free is the only solution, which can make traffic flow smooth.

Justice S K Mittal and justice Amol Rattan Singh of the division bench after hearing the petition filed by the DGSCL told every concerned party of the case to come together to resolve the issue as soon as possible and told them to convene a meeting before the next date of hearing and come up with ideas to resolve the issue.

Gurgaon Council, which expressed its resolve to carry on the fight to remove toll plaza completely, is hopeful of its success. "We are trying remove this toll plaza completely by 31st of March and will be again going to court after the next hearing," Rathee added.

It is believed that all the concerned parties will take the middle way to resolve the issue, but many people feel that NHAI taking over the control of the e-way will bring some relief to the daily commuters.
Despite repeated attempts, this citizen journalist couldn’t reach RP Singh, chairman of NHAI.