The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the Allahabad High Court’s order making the Delhi-Noida Direct flyway toll-free. A bench of the court dismissed the petition of the Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited against the high court’s ruling, which came after it said the company had “recovered all reasonable returns” on its investment in the flyway and could no longer collect any toll, The Indian Express reported.
The Supreme Court also appointed an auditor to examine the accounts of the NTBCL to determine the costs and profits involved in the development of the project. On October 28, the apex court had temporarily stayed the collection of toll until it passed a detailed ruling on the matter, NDTV reported.
This came two months after Noida residents held protests against the toll for using the 8-lane, 9.2-kilometre long DND expressway. Protesters had alleged corruption in the project and said the builders had already made profits from it.
The Allahabad High Court had decided to make the DND flyway toll-free after hearing a plea filed by the Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations. The organisation had alleged the project cost Rs 450 crore, despite the World Bank estimating a cost of only Rs 193 crore. The flyway, which connects Delhi on the west bank of the Yamuna with Noida and East Delhi, began operations in 2001. It is estimated to have collected over Rs 2,000 crore in toll fees from commuters, according to India Today.
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