Supreme Court refuses stay order on Delhi-Gurgaon expressway being toll free for 15 days

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today refused to stay the order of Punjab & Haryana High Court which had restrained collection of toll tax on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway for 15 days to ensure free flow of traffic.

A bench of justices D K Jain and Madan B Lokur rejected the plea of South Delhi Municipal Corporation which pleaded that the High Court interim measure be stayed as it is losing toll tax of Rs 25 lakh per day.

Senior Advocate Ravi Shankar Prasad made a fervent plea for allowing it to collect taxes at least on commercial vevicles but the bench was not impressed.

The bench asked the municipal body to approach the High Court for the relief.

Anguished over the frequent traffic chaos on the Highway, the High Court had on September 4 restrained the Delhi-Gurgaon Super Connectivity Limited ( DGSCL) from collecting toll tax on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway for 15 days saying that the concessionaire had not been able to ensure free flow of traffic on the expressway.

It had also directed the Haryana Government to provide dedicated police personnel at the toll plaza to ensure that security measures are in place.