Residents ask Noida chief to audit accounts of DND flyway operator

City residents led by former Noida member of the legislative assembly (MLA) Nawab Singh Nagar met Rama Raman, chairman of the Noida authority, on Monday. They demanded immediate audit of the Delhi Noida Direct (DND) toll account.

City residents led by former Noida member of the legislative assembly (MLA) Nawab Singh Nagar met Rama Raman, chairman of the Noida authority, on Monday. They demanded immediate audit of the Delhi Noida Direct (DND) toll account.

Residents also discussed the issue of scrapping toll charges for using the DND flyway. (HT Photo)

Residents also expressed concern over the indifferent approach of the authority. They said the Noida authority was not taking the DND toll issue seriously despite several protests from across Delhi and NCR in the past three years. Residents have been demanding scrapping of all toll charges.

Residents also talked to the chairman regarding a letter written to him by principal secretary Anita Singh in March in this regard.

“The chairman has assured us that action will be taken soon. We should give him some more time. We found that the chairman was more positive and understanding to our demand. He said that the authority has written to the government replying to Anita Singh’s letter. We will wait for a month and if no concrete action is taken by the authority, we will resort to protest in July,” said Nagar after meeting the chairman.

In her letter to Rama Raman, the principal secretary had asked for a fair audit of the NTBCL (Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited) by the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) of India.

“She clearly said that the authority must attempt to remove questionable clauses from the agreement that are tilted in favour of the NTBCL,” said Nagar.

Rama Raman, when asked, said, “I have replied to the Uttar Pradesh government in this regard. Since the matter is sub-judice, it is not pertinent to comment on it.”

“There is a clause in the agreement signed in 1997 by the NTBCL and Noida authority that the company has to recover its cost of construction by making 20% profit every year. This is the most controversial clause. Ever since the toll collection started, the NTBCL has only shown deficit. This is what we want the CAG to examine,” said Nagar.