NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal against an Allahabad high court order directing the Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd (NTBCL) to halt toll collection on the DND Flyway, which connects Delhi to Noida.
The court’s verdict, delivered by a bench led by Justice Surya Kant, pertains to the challenge of toll collection in the form of a “user fee” by the private company on the 9.2 km stretch of the eight-lane flyway.
The dispute dates back to 2016, when the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audited NTBCL’s accounts to determine whether the company had recovered its investment and a reasonable profit from the project.
The Supreme Court had earlier declined to stay the Allahabad high court’s ruling that made the DND Flyway toll-free, citing concerns over “excessive” user fees and directing that the costs of the flyway project be audited.
The toll, originally charged by NTBCL since the flyway’s inauguration in 2001, was a subject of contention as residents complained of poor road conditions, including potholes and dysfunctional streetlights, despite ongoing toll collection.
A 2016 petition by the Federation of Noida Resident Welfare Associations (FONRWA) had led to the high court’s decision, arguing that the charges were excessive.
NTBCL, however, contended that it had not recouped its investment, citing financial difficulties exacerbated by the cessation of toll collection.
The Noida Authority and the Delhi government were expected to oversee repairs, but issues like potholes and broken streetlights persist. NTBCL, despite ceasing toll collection, continues to maintain the flyway, citing its obligations under the original concession agreement.
