New Expressway toll rates throw traffic out of gear
Hassled commuters in vehicles, forming serpentine queues on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, are a common sight. Sunil Thapliyal reports.
Hassled commuters in vehicles, forming serpentine queues on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, are a common sight. The problem is far from ending, as commuters continue to get caught in massive jams at toll plazas due to shortage of change (coins) and poor surveillance.
A hike in toll tax rates by a rupee, from R20 to R21, from April 1 has added to the chaos on the expressway. Commuters and officials, deployed at the toll plaza, struggle to give exact change to commuters, which forces traffic to slow down on both sides of the toll gates.
Besides, with many commuters unaware of the new charges, the situation has worsened. “I cannot figure out the reason behind this messy traffic,” said Rakesh Ranjan, a commuter, stuck in the jam. It was only after some time that he came to know the reason.
“We have asked the police to deploy policemen on the expressway, but the city police have refused to fulfil our need due to shortage of manpower,” said an official.
“The toll plaza operator should deploy its marshals to deal with the situation. Their request was turned down by the higher authority,” said Bharti Arora, DCP traffic.
The situation is worsened because of drivers, who stray into tag lanes from cash line. DSC Construction, the concessionaire firm for expressway, claimed that it wrote to the NHAI, permitting it to impose penalty on errant drivers. But the NHAI’s response yet to come, said a DSC official.
“Marshals are not able to control the situation. Also, there is no policeman at the expressway, which makes the situation out of control," said Subhash Chandra, a commuter.