CBI registers preliminary enquiry in toll collection case

NEW DELHI: CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry related to toll collection on Delhi-Jaipur highway, connecting the national capital with the 'Pink City', government said today.

Replying to a question on whether CBI has started a probe related to manipulations in Delhi-Jaipur Highway toll collection, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan said in Rajya Sabha, "CBI has registered a Preliminary Enquiry in the matter against unknown officers/ officials of...NHAI and office bearer of Pink City Expressway Pvt Ltd (PCEPL) on October 22, 2014."

He said various steps have been taken to ensure proper functioning of tolls across the country, which includes hosting of Concession Agreements on the NHAI website, setting up of a comprehensive portal, toll information system (TIS), in public domain to provide updated information of all toll plazas among others.

The much-delayed Delhi-Jaipur highway will be completed by December, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had earlier said.

Completion of the Pink City Expressway project, which started in 2008, has been a priority for the ministry, he had said.

The Delhi-Jaipur highway project has been delayed due to various reasons including land acquisition and contractual issues. The project cost of the 260 km highway has shot up to Rs 3,000 crore from Rs 1,896 crore.

Pink City Expressway Pvt Ltd is the developer of the project.