City seeks share in expressways’ revenue on cut-off date basis
17 Jun 2013 5:41 AM IST
With construction of the two peripheral expressways getting delayed, the Delhi cabinet decided that further release of funds would be conditional and also demanded a cap at some level.
The meeting held on Saturday decided to tell the NCR Planning Board that Delhi’s share in the revenue should be fixed on the basis of a cut-off date.
After the cabinet meeting, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the NCR Planning Board had proposed two peripheral expressways to provide bypasses or linkages to five National Highways – 1, 2, 8, 10 and 24. Both were approved in 2005.
The western half of this bypass linking Kundli to Faridabad through NH-10 and NH-8 was designated as the Western Peripheral Expressway and the eastern half was called the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.
The delay in the completion of the Western Peripheral Expressway reportedly burdened the capital with higher land acquisition costs and the city also failed to meet its target for decongestion of roads. Delhi has reportedly paid its share of 50 per cent for the construction of the two peripheral expressways. Therefore, the cabinet decided to raise a claim in the revenue likely to be earned by both Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The cabinet also stated that the Delhi government should claim a share of the toll revenue collected on these expressways.
The delay in the construction has happened despite the regular monitoring of the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister’s Office. The cost of land acquisition for the two expressways was estimated to be around Rs 2,550 crore in 2010 that rose to Rs 2,905.2 crore in 2011. It means, the share of Delhi has already increased to 1,452.6 crore in 2011 as against Rs1,275.34 crore in 2012. Delhi has already paid Rs 653.50 crore of it.
The two expressways will cover 270 kilometre. Their construction was undertaken following a SC order to get Delhi rid of traffic jams. While the work on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway is complete, 10 per cent work on the Western Peripheral is still to be completed.
The meeting held on Saturday decided to tell the NCR Planning Board that Delhi’s share in the revenue should be fixed on the basis of a cut-off date.
After the cabinet meeting, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the NCR Planning Board had proposed two peripheral expressways to provide bypasses or linkages to five National Highways – 1, 2, 8, 10 and 24. Both were approved in 2005.
The western half of this bypass linking Kundli to Faridabad through NH-10 and NH-8 was designated as the Western Peripheral Expressway and the eastern half was called the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.
The delay in the completion of the Western Peripheral Expressway reportedly burdened the capital with higher land acquisition costs and the city also failed to meet its target for decongestion of roads. Delhi has reportedly paid its share of 50 per cent for the construction of the two peripheral expressways. Therefore, the cabinet decided to raise a claim in the revenue likely to be earned by both Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The cabinet also stated that the Delhi government should claim a share of the toll revenue collected on these expressways.
The delay in the construction has happened despite the regular monitoring of the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister’s Office. The cost of land acquisition for the two expressways was estimated to be around Rs 2,550 crore in 2010 that rose to Rs 2,905.2 crore in 2011. It means, the share of Delhi has already increased to 1,452.6 crore in 2011 as against Rs1,275.34 crore in 2012. Delhi has already paid Rs 653.50 crore of it.
The two expressways will cover 270 kilometre. Their construction was undertaken following a SC order to get Delhi rid of traffic jams. While the work on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway is complete, 10 per cent work on the Western Peripheral is still to be completed.
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