Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway battle closer to resolution as lenders agree to remove toll plaza

NEW DELHI: In what could provide major relief for commuters along the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway, the lead lender for the project, Infrastructure Development Finance Company ( IDFC), has filed a settlement proposal in the Delhi High Court on Monday.

According to the affidavit filed in Delhi High Court, IDFC has finally agreed to NHAI's proposal of tolling only at one location, which would mean that the contentious toll plaza along the Delhi-Gurgaon border, which had been causing serious inconvenience to the public, would be removed.

IDFC will also replace the current concessionaire Delhi Gurgaon Super Connectivity Ltd ( DGSCL) with another suitable party to take-over the project.

In its affidavit, IDFC has stated that senior lenders are agreeable to NHAI Board's 'option 3' according to which only the toll plaza at km 42 will remain.

In addition, NHAI and the highways ministry had said that the concessionaire must withdraw all its claims – something that DGSCL, in a joint letter with IDFC to NHAI earlier this month, had agreed to, said sources.

The concessionaire DGSCL and NHAI have been fighting out in a prolonged legal dispute after the Authority served a termination notice to the concessionaire for not performing duties as per the contract leading to severe public inconvenience at the toll plaza.

NHAI and the highways ministry had also flagged concerns about the nature of financial assistance extended to the concessionaire by IDFC.

Last year, suspecting criminal liability on part of the stakeholders, the highways ministry had approached the CVC and ED to investigate the same though this was put on hold in hopes of an amicable resolution to the matter.

In an ultimatum to the parties involved, NHAI and the highways ministry had said that if an agreeable outcome could be reached, the government would would pay the lenders about Rs 140 crore and buy-back the project.

The next hearing is scheduled for February 3.