Dwarka expressway residents ask NHAI to exempt them from Kherki Daula toll

Residents living in housing societies located along the Dwarka Expressway have written to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), on Friday, requesting an exemption from the toll fee at the Kherki Daula Toll Plaza.

A group of residents under the banner of Dxp Welfare Association (Dwarka Expressway Welfare Association) met NHAI officials and handed over a memorandum, seeking exemption from toll for over one lakh residents living in various residential societies from sectors 81 to 99.

The access to these sectors is through the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, and residents have to cross the Kherki Daula toll and take a right turn under the flyover.

For non-commercial vehicles, the toll is Rs 65. In commercial category, there are two rates: Rs 80 and Rs 100. The residents said they pay Rs 130 for crossing the toll at least twice daily.

Ashok Tejpal, president, Independent Floors Association, Sector 83, said, “On many occasions, we have to cross the toll plaza three to four times. We end up paying Rs 3500 to Rs 4000 a month for the toll alone. It is strange that the authorities are turning a blind eye to this problem. So we had to meet the NHAI authorities for exempting us from the toll.”

The residents said that Ashok Sharma, project director of the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, was not available in office; but they submitted the memorandum nonetheless.

Ravi Poonia, general secretary, RWA, Mapsko Casa Bella, Sector 82, said, “If the Haryana government and the NHAI can exempt residents of all villages located in close radius of the toll, they should exempt us as well.”

There are about 50 societies which are occupied, of which the most populated ones are located in sectors 81 to 99 for which the access through Kherki Daula toll is quite convenient.

Prakhar Sahay, joint secretary, Dxp Welfare Association, said, “We expect positive action from the NHAI. We have asked the NHAI for exemption from toll till the time it is removed from here. The traffic jam at the toll is also a major worry. There is no solution with the traffic police and the NHAI. We pay toll and face jam and nuisance daily.”

The executive of Millennium City Expressway Private Limited (MCEPL), which is operating the Kherki Daula toll plaza said the concessionaire’s office has not received any such request or proposal.

S Raguraman, chief executive officer (MCEPL), said, “We have already distributed 16,000 tags to the residents of 31 villages. We will not comment anything on this issue.” “I will not make any statement in this regard. However this is true that this office has received a proposal from residents,” said Ashok Sharma, project director, NHAI.

First Published: Aug 13, 2018 07:36 IST