'Why can't we go toll-free till Jan?' Supreme Court calls for closure of 9 plazas in Delhi to check pollution
The SC bench led by CJI Surya Kant asked the MCD to take a decision on this matter within a week.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the closure or shifting of nine toll plazas in order to ease congestion in Delhi's border areas, amid the hearing on air pollution.
The Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to take a decision within a week on closing nine of its toll plazas for the time being, PTI news agency reported.
“Why can't the officials says that till January, there will be no toll plaza?” the CJI questioned.
Delivering the order, also asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to consider the possibility of shifting nine toll collection booths run by the MCD.
Such booths can be shifted to such locations which can be manned by the NHAI, Justice Surya Kant said, according to Live Law. The CJI added that part of the toll collected from these can be “diverted to the MCD to compensate the…temporary loss.”
The bench had been apprised of the issue of traffic congestion at the MCD toll plaza between Delhi and Gurgaon, raising concerns that the long queues of vehicles there add to the pollution level in the Capital.
The top court issued these directions while hearing pleas related to the pollution crisis in the capital. The SC described the crisis as an “annual feature”, while urging for practical measures to solve the problem.
“Let us think of pragmatic and practical solutions of the menace,” CJI Surya Kant said, while also taking note of the impact of pollution-related curbs on the livelihoods of some. In view of this, the SC bench directed the Delhi government to verify construction workers who have been rendered idle due to the restrictions, and transfer financial assistance directly to their bank accounts.
The bench also stressed that it should be ensured that the workers receive the amount, adding that “it should not be that money transferred to workers’ accounts disappears or travels to another account”, PTI reported.
