Noida:
Opposing the recent hike in DND flyway toll rates, Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Association has decided to file a PIL against the "highly unjustified" MoU signed with the Noida Toll Bridge Co Ltd. FONRWA protested against hike in DND flyway toll rates and threatened to block the flyway on November 20 if the hike was not rolled back.
The Association has also written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav seeking his intervention in the matter.
Toll charges for the DND flyway were hiked from Rs 22 to Rs 25 on November 9.
N P Singh, president, FONRWA said today that in a meeting with the District Magistrate and NTBCL officials yesterday, the DM had asked the company to roll back the hike.
"Though authority officers were cooperative, they expressed inability to force roll back, as, as per MoU terms, they have little say. So we have decided to file PIL too," said A N Dhawan, Chief Advisor of FONRWA today.
"We have also written to UP Chief Minister to review the MoU and take back the DND Flyway and make it toll free," he said.
As per toll rules framed by Uttar Pradesh, 10 per cent annual hike is permissible for expressways constructed under PPP models.
As per the MoU signed with NTBCL, company can hike the toll rate if approved by majority of board members even if Noida Authority has any objection.
Noida authority has little say in deciding the toll hike, Mr Singh alleged.
NTBCL has shown losses worth thousands of crores and claimed it would take more than 70 years to recover the amount, which means concession period would have to be extended from earlier 30 years.