Peripheral roads unlikely to connect with Delhi-Gurgaon expressway

Officials of the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran , the local administrative agency, had opened an alternative route, connecting the SPR to the NH-48. However, this route is also likely to be shut unless the authority gets the permission of the NHAI.

In a blow to residents of new Gurugram, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is unlikely to sanction the connectivity of alternative routes up to and beyond Kherki Daula, as the toll plaza is yet to be shifted.

The concessionaire for the Delhi-Gurgoan Expressway has the right to collect a toll till 2023. (HT File)

NHAI officials are of the view that the Northern Peripheral Road (NPR), access to which is presently blocked and the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) can be connected only through a cloverleaf junction that will be built soon on Central Peripheral Road (CPR).

Officials of the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), the local administrative agency, had opened an alternative route, connecting the SPR to the National Highway-48 (NH-48). However, this route is also likely to be shut unless the authority gets the permission of the NHAI.

The five-kilometre road, starting from SPR was connected with NH-48 two weeks earlier by HSVP, but the NHAI officials objected to it. The NPR has remained blocked since 2016, when the concessionaire constructed a three-foot high wall, which is almost 300 metres long, to prevent traffic spill.

On Saturday, HSVP sought permission from the NHAI to connect these roads but in the wake of strong objections raised by the Millennium City Expressway Pvt Ltd, the concessionaire for the Delhi Gurgaon Expressway, the authority is likely to encounter legal obstacles in opening these roads.

The new roads, both the SPR and NPR, will help the residents of new and developing sectors, particularly beyond the toll plaza, avoid the daily congestion and jams on the highway. Also, commuters can avoid paying the toll if these roads are opened, which is proving to be a sticking point among the stakeholders.

NHAI on Monday made it clear that it is not possible to allow the removal of the NPR wall as it would violate the concessionaire agreement and state-support agreement with the with the MCEPL, which has the contract for toll collection till 2023.

“It would be against the rules and in violation of the contract to allow the NPR’s connection to the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. The NPR and SPR can only be connected through a cloverleaf junction and it will be built on the CPR by the NHAI. Also, the movement of traffic towards Kherki Daula toll would be made possible through a trumpet junction,” said Ashok Sharma, project director, NHAI, who made it clear that it was against NHAI’s policy and practice to allow leakage of traffic.

Sharma also said that while the issue of NPR connectivity is under his jurisdiction, the access to an alternative road beyond Kherki Daula toll plaza will be decided upon by the NHAI officials in Jaipur.

Officials of the Pink City Expressway Ltd, which is the concessionaire for Gurgaon-Jaipur highway, had raised an objection to the HSVP’s move to connect an internal road with the NH-48 without their permission. “We have asked the authority to seek NHAI’s permission before connecting this road,” said Anil Kumar, route supervisor.

NN Giri, project director, NHAI, Jaipur, said that the rules and regulations have to be followed while connecting a road to a highway, as it could lead to a loss of revenue to the concessionaire. “The permission to connect the road is a policy-level decision that has to be taken at a higher level. We have been given a set of rules that we have to follow and on these parameters, this road can’t be allowed,” he added.

The HSVP officials, meanwhile, said that they have sought permission from the NHAI to connect the NPR and also the also the alternative road connecting the SPR with the NH-48. “These are important roads and will ensure great improvement in traffic movement, once these become operational. The concerns of the highway concessionaire would also be addressed once the NHAI replies to us,” said Chander Shekhar Khare, HSVP administrator.

The congestion on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and jams at Kherki Daula toll have forced the residents of newly developed sectors to seek relief. Last Friday, a group of residents had started an indefinite hunger strike demanding shifting of the toll plaza, fast completion of the Dwarka Expressway and the opening of these roads.

“The residents are suffering due to the toll plaza and opening this road has been helpful for commuters. The shifting of the toll plaza is also stuck as a landowner has filed a court case against the acquisition of land in Panchgaon, where it is to be shifted. In fact, we have been asked to become a party in that case as the affected persons. That is a different issue. At present, we want the NHAI to allow increased connectivity,” said Pravin Malik, a functionary of the United Association of new Gurugram.

All stakeholders agree that the only viable solution is to shift the Kherki Daula toll plaza, which has been hanging fire since last one year. Although the Haryana government has reiterated that it would shift it by March 31, it is likely to be delayed due to difficulties in land acquisition.