HC may decide fate of Gurgaon expressway operation today

Even as commuters continue to brave massive traffic snarls on the 28-km Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway almost daily, the dispute between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the expressway operator is getting messier.

Even as commuters continue to brave massive traffic snarls on the 28-km Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway almost daily, the dispute between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the expressway operator is getting messier.

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NHAI had on February 17 issued termination notice to the Delhi-Gurgaon Super Connectivity (DSC) Limited, the concessionaire which operates and maintains the expressway, for violating the terms of agreement. DSC Limited had approached the court, which stayed the termination order and directed the two parties to resolve the dispute amicably.

Sources said after several rounds of deliberations, NHAI has drafted a detailed settlement plan to ensure smooth traffic flow and decongest the toll plazas. The plan, endorsed by the NHAI board, was sent to DSC Limited on August 17. However, the latter has not agreed to it till now.

The matter will come up in the Delhi High Court on Thursday. "If the concessionaire does not endorse the settlement plan, then the NHAI reserves the right to terminate the contract. However, since the matter is in the court, a final decision will have to be taken by them," said an official.

As part of the settlement plan, NHAI has directed the operator to reduce the number of minimum trips from 60 to 40 per month for local commuters if they want to avail 50% concession. Also, local residents should be given the electronic tag, which costs R1,500, for free.

For safe and smooth movement of traffic, DSC Limited will also have to modify the entry and exit of the expresswsay by widening sections where heavy traffic snarls are reported. Also, the operator will have to provide additional lanes at two points on the toll plaza to reduce congestion.

The highways authority had also accused the operator of fraud in obtaining financial assistance to the tune of R1,597 crore without NHAI approval. "Now, the board has resolved the dispute and told the operator to return R367 crore that was obtained without the highway authority's approval to the financiers," said a source.