HC told to decide on DND flyover toll in 3 months

Legal Correspondent

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New Delhi, June 30

The Supreme Court today asked the Allahabad High Court to give its ruling within three months on a PIL plea for abolition of toll charges for using the Delhi-Noida-Delhi (DND) flyover across the Yamuna river. 

A Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur passed the order on a petition by Noida Residents Welfare Association, challenging the high court's refusal to at least suspend collection of toll from vehicles passing through the DND.

The association said the flyover, constructed at a cost of Rs 408 crore, was inaugurated in 2001 and the concessionaire had already collected Rs 2,753 crore in the first 15 years. At present, each car would have to pay Rs 28 every time it passes through the flyover.

If the public-private-participation (PPP) agreement was allowed to run for 30 years as envisaged, the Noida Toll Bridge Company would make a windfall profit by collecting a whopping Rs 53,352 crore at the cost of vehicle owners using the flyover, the association said. 

It was time the flyover was made free in the interest of the commuting public, it pleaded. The company, however, sought dismissing of the petition as the association had taken more than three years to come to the SC challenging the HC's interim order.

The Bench, however, requested the HC to dispose of the PIL in three months and if this was not possible it should give its ruling on the plea for suspension of the toll.