News: Gurgaon Toll Removed: A Sign of Relief for Commuters-22/02/14

In a recent ode of events, lakh of commuters between Delhi and Gurgaon finally got a sign of relief as the Gurgaon Toll finally gets shut down. In a long-awaited decision, the Delhi high court on Wednesday approved an agreement scrapping the 32-lane toll plaza at Sirhaul — and with it, the traffic chaos has become an essential part of it.

The settlement agreement resolved a two-year-long dispute between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), project financier IDFC and toll operator Delhi Gurgaon Super Connectivity Ltd (DGSCL). After the toll plaza is removed, tolling will only be allowed at the second toll plaza at Kherki Dhaula. The toll plaza at the Kherki Dhaula will be run by IDFC  (Infrastructural Development Finance Corporation) after the exit of DGSCL.

The terms of the settlement would lead to dismantling of toll plazas 12 out of total 16 toll lanes on the Expressway.  Rest 4 toll lanes on the expressway will be active for levying entry tax from commercial vehicles coming to Delhi. But, 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.

While the removal of toll plaza at the Delhi-Gurgaon border has made the movement for those commuting to and from Gurgaon free of traffic snarls and brought a relief to their pockets, those travelling beyond Gurgaon towards Manesar and Jaipur will now have to shed more.

The decision on whether to take apart 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.