GURGAON: While traffic snarls have made a comeback at the 32-lane toll plaza, the private concessionaire of Delhi-Gurgaon expressway blames cash users entering tag lanes as the major cause of indiscipline.Meanwhile, the concessionaire, Delhi-Gurgaon Super Connectivity Ltd (DGSCL), has failed to popularize “touch and go” smart cards among commuters – an initiative to reduce wait time at the toll gates.

DGSCL failed to open a single sale point for smart cards along the expressway. The concessionaire was required to promote the sale of smart cards by making it available at petrol pumps and other convenient places along the expressway. It has been able to issue just 18,000 smart cards since last October.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the highway authority and the concessionaire, signed in September, 2012, has made it obligatory for DGSCL to introduce touch card technology on the toll plazas. Later, following an order of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Gurgaon police had suggested opening of outlets for selling smart cards at vantage points along the expressway to popularize it. The concessionaire opened one such sale point near the 32-lane toll plaza.

Now, this has also been shut and smart cards are only available at the three toll plazas of the expressway.

The drive to penalize cash users entering in the tag lanes also failed to take off. Out of 32 lanes, eight are earmarked for electronic tag users. But, the facility rendered useless with cash users also using this lane. In such a scenario, tag users are also made to wait in queues.

DGSCL has so far issued 1,37, 973 tags, out of which 1,23,006 are active, revealed an RTI reply given to a city resident Aseem Takyar.

A DGSCL spokesperson said, “Tag users are not able to get the benefit of a smooth passage as cash users deliberately get into tag lanes. This is one of the biggest reasons for congestion at the toll plaza. Ideally waiting time in tag lanes should be minimal if only tag users use the tag lane.”

“However, when cash in tag lane violation is high, the transaction rates in these “mixed” lanes, where cash users also enter tag lanes, sometimes dips to levels even lesser than the transaction rates of cash lanes. This is clearly a driving discipline issue that can only be resolved by challaning the errant cash drivers who enter the tag lane. Since as a concessionaire, we do not have the authority to challan such errant vehicles, we had written to the NHAI to give us the rights to challan such errant vehicles. As that did not happen, we have repeatedly requested the traffic police to step in as they have the authority to challan cash users who enter tag lanes. This needs to be done on regular basis,” the spokesperson added.

When contacted, joint commissioner of police (traffic) Bharti Arora said, “There is no such rule in Motor Vehicle Act to challan motorists for entering tag lanes. But, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the concessionaire can fix a penalty for this.”

Source -http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

GURGAON: An RTI reply has revealed that not a single call or request has been received through the SOS call service on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway during the last one year. A spot visit to SOS booths on Friday revealed that they were out of order.The SOS service is meant to provide assistance to commuters in case of emergency. According to the concession agreement, emergency telephone system should be installed every two km and monitored by central control system.

While agreeing that the concessionaire, Delhi-Gurgaon Super Connectivity Ltd (DGSCL), hardly receive any calls on SOS booths and stated that commuters prefer calling in directly on the toll free number and the other two helpline numbers from their mobile phones.

There are 26  DGSCL booths along the expressway.

The booths have remained out of the order for most of the time since its installation on account of vandalism and not being repaired by DGSCL. The Friday visit was no difference. The booths were out of order there was no response from them

.

The RTI applicant, Aseem Takyar, had sought reply from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) about the total number of complaints, requests for SOS service in the last one year. NHAI stated that no complaint, requests were received. The authorities, however, added that more information is being obtained from the concessionaire.

NHAI said through the SOS helpline any service/help can be obtained from the corridor control of the concessionaire. As per the concessionaire agreement, the concessionaire is also required to provide medical room, first aid material in ambulance. There are four ambulances deployed by the concessionaire.

A DGSCL spokesperson said, “In case of any breakdowns or accidents, commuters prefer to call in from their cell phones directly at the toll free numbers that are mentioned along the expressway and on the toll receipt. They can call in at the toll free number 1800-103-1700 or at 9717890175 and 0124-2450800.”

More than a 100 calls are received every day on the toll free number and another 25-30 calls are received on the other two numbers which our corridor control teams respond to speedily, added the spokesperson.

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DGSCL yet to receive NHAI notice

The DGSCL is yet to receive the notice issued by the NHAI regional office issued on Monday. NHAI office issued notice to the concessionaire directing it to immediately take up the road repair work of the expressway and service lanes. A DGSCL spokesperson stated Friday that the concessionaire has not yet received the notice. However, we would be responding to it as soon as we receive it. The maintenance of service roads on the expressway is also part of the matter being heard by the Delhi High Court where the matter is sub judice and would be next heard by the court in July.

BOX

An RTI application was filed seeking information from the NHAI about the total number of complaints/ requests for the SOS service

There are 26 SOS booths along the expressway

The booths are out of the order since its installation on account of vandalism, neglect

Commuters prefer calling in directly on the toll free numbers displayed on the route. There are three numbers 1800-103-1700 or at 9717890175 and 0124-2450800.”

More than 100 calls are received every day on the toll free number

JAMSHEDPUR: The Rs 6.5-crore Khasmahal-Asanboni road project will finally see the light of day after it was postponed thrice. Construction of the 12.5km road will start next month.Project work got delayed as it failed to attract private road construction agencies owing to its modest budget. But authorities finally roped in few players after the project was split into three parts.”Two road construction firms have agreed to take up the project after the length of the road was split into three equal parts (4km). Each of the two selected companies will construct the road in phases,” said an official of the Rural Engineering Organization, Jamshedpur division.The project, which was approved in February during President’s Rule, got delayed thrice after tender was issued in March for the first time.

It was after the demand from local MP Ajay Kumar and Potka and Jugsalai legislators, Menaka Sardar and Ramchandra Sahis respectively, that the then DC of East Singhbhum Himani Pandey asked the concerned department to prepare a project estimate for the road construction work and sent it to the state headquarters for approval.

“The construction work will commence from October and in six months time it would be completed,” said executive engineer of Rural Engineering Organization Rameshwar Kumar.

One of the busy streets on the fringes of the city which has thousands of vehicles particularly bi-cycles, two-wheelers and passenger mini buses plying on it during the day, the road was in dire need of re-construction for the past several years.

With the construction of the rundown road, the near one lakh residents of Khasmahal, Sarjamda, Barigora, Rahargora, Gadra and Asanboni area will benefit the most.

With two Greenfield projects, Bhushan Power and Steel Company Ltd’s 3MTPA integrated steel plant and 900MW captive power plant and Jindal Steel and Power Ltd’s 5MTPA steel plant coming up in Potka-Ghatshila stretch in the district, the proposed road is likely to witness manifold increase in traffic movement in the near future.

Source- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

PATNA: Yet another glamorous project of Bihar State Road Development Corporation (BSRDC) started taking shape on Tuesday when the work for about 12km-long 4-lane elevated road corridor between AIIMS and Digha in Patna was awarded to a construction major.Once completed, the road will provide much relief from the traffic congestion in the city, particularly on the narrow Ashok Rajpath as it would be connected with the Ganga Path at Digha end. Eleven construction firms took part in the bidding, which was aggressive as well as close. The project was awarded to M/s Gammon India Ltd which quoted the lowest bid of Rs 717.14 crore.”This project is for the construction of 2-lane semi-elevated and 4-lane elevated highway over Patna canal as approach road of rail-cum-road project across the Ganga at Digha. The length of the elevated road is 11.9km,” said BSRDC managing director Pratyaya Amrit in whose presence the tenders were opened.The starting point of the project is 6.8km of NH-98 near AIIMS and the end point is at the junction of Ganga Path. It will have 2km of 2-lane semi-elevated and 9.90km of 4-lane elevated roads. The BSRDC had projected Rs 1,289 crore as the total cost of the project. Among the major bidders included L&T, Punj Lloyd, HCCL and Navyuga Engineering. A few months back, Navyuga was awarded the Ganga Path project work which is scheduled to commence on October 11.

The elevated road project will have major crossings at Bailey Road and Ashok Rajpath and will have connectivity with important places like Danapur railway station, proposed Patliputra railway station and AIIMS. Besides, it will also have connectivity with the Ganga Path and one railway bridge at Khagaul (Patna-Delhi) line. One minor bridge will also be linked to this project which is scheduled to be completed in three years from the start of the work.

Gammon India is already working on some projects in the state, including the state highways 69, 70 and 91 besides Muzaffarpur-Hajipur road, Ara-Buxar road, Munger bridge and Baluaha bridge. Some of these projects have been delayed, admitted company’s regional office vice-president B K Singh. He said the delay was due to land acquisition and other issues. “Almost all companies are facing these problems due to government policy,” he added.

Amrit said since this is one of the prestigious projects, the BSRDC will strictly monitor the schedule of the work and keep a close vigil on other related issues to ensure that the firm maintains the deadline.

Source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

NEW DELHI: Private highway developers are trying to extract maximum “relief” from government, citing the continuing economic gloom that has impacted their projects. Road builders who have started 16 premium projects including IRB, L&T, Reliance Infra, Ashoka Buildcon and Essel Infraprojects want the government to allow rescheduling of annual premium payment as is being considered for 23 other “stressed” projects.Highways ministry has sought Cabinet approval for rescheduling of upfront annual revenue or “premium” in case these stressed projects.

After receiving a proposal from National Highway Builders Federation (NHBF) and IRB that the proposed premium rescheduling scheme should be extended to all premium projects.NHAI has asked the ministry to put a supplementary note for Cabinet’s consideration. NHBF has said, “Selective approach in allowing rescheduling of premium will invite litigation and any policy amendments needs to be extended to all premium projects awarded, irrespective of these projects have been issued appointed date and started construction or not and allow the concessionaire who are opting for this scheme.”

It added any litigation on this issue may derail the scheme and will in turn affect the revival of this sector. NHBF has said due to economic slowdown last year and rate of GDP growth plummeting to a decade low 5% have impacted toll revenues as low as 50% than estimated in majority of projects.

According to NHAI sources, the premium committed in case of already started 16 projects comes close to Rs 55,000 crore in the next 20-30 years and developers of the yet to be started 23 projects have committed to pay Rs 1 lakh crore to the authority.

Ministry officials said it’s impossible to add fresh ones to the list of identified “stressed” projects since a consensus has already been achieved among law, finance and road ministries to allow premium rescheduling of 23 projects including GMR’s Kishangarh-Udaipur-Ahmedabad highway. “By bringing in more projects under this list we will open a new window for debate and objections. How can we say that projects where work has started are under stress?” asked a ministry official.

Moreover, the signal that economic affairs secretary Arvind Mayaram sent on Monday on premium rescheduling at a FICCI summit indicates the amount of heat this new proposal may generate. He had said that to avoid “moral hazard” because of this move, there is need to identify “stressed” projects objectively and to have a methodology.

He had added that there is need to find out whey the particular projects are stressed. “If it’s because of authority’s default then they must take the haircut. We can’t brush it under the carpet. If the developer is at fault then it must take the haircut,” Mayaram had said.

The expenditure secretary had also said that there is need of a regulator to deal with such issues objectively.