The long-standing demand of city residents for exemption from toll tax got a shot in the arm on Friday when the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) issued a fresh direction to the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway operator to review its concession policy.
Presently, a concession is extended to only vehicles which cross the toll plaza 60 times a month (twice a day) from Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad, among NCR places across the border.
On Friday, a meeting was held between the core committee members of NHAI and Toll Hatao Sangharsh Samiti (THSS). “Our demand is that all vehicles belonging to Gurgaon districts should be exempted from the toll tax or be given 50% concession whether they cross the toll plaza daily or not,” said Atar Singh Sandhu, a member of THSS. Cars are charged R21 per trip at the toll plaza.
While speaking to Hindustan Times, THSS members repeatedly referred to the NHAI’s direction to concessionaire firm, Delhi Gurgaon Super Connectivity Limited (DGSCL), in favour of their long-standing demand of concession for all Gurgaon-registered vehicles.
However, an NHAI official clarified that the direction is not categorically only for Gurgaon vehicles.
{{/usCountry}}However, an NHAI official clarified that the direction is not categorically only for Gurgaon vehicles.
{{/usCountry}}“Rather, I have directed DGSCL to review Clause 6.3 of the agreement which defines ‘local vehicles’ and the related concession policy. Also, since the matter is in court, the concessionaire cannot review the policy,” said VL Patankar, technical member, NHAI.
Under Clause 6.3, local vehicles eligible for concession are defined as vehicles from across areas (not only from Gurgaon).
They have to cross the toll booth 60 times a month to be exempted from 50% tax in terms of personal vehicles and 34% for commercial vehicles.
“We are already providing concession to local vehicles. However, it is applicable only to vehicles which have a monthly tag scheme that amounts to 60 trips a month,” said a DGSCL spokesperson, adding that over 30,000 commuters benefit from the scheme. DGSCL was not part of Friday’s meeting.