Massive traffic jam on DND flyway due to Delhi Jal Board’s maintenance work

Several commuters were stuck in a massive traffic jam on the Delhi-Noida-Delhi flyway in morning rush hours today. As per latest reports, the vehicular movement has still not improved. According to Delhi Traffic Police, the jam was caused due to the Delhi Jal Board’s maintenance work. The traffic police in a reply to an irate commuter tweeted that, “Sir, area traffic staff has already been informed and as per report area traffic officer, traffic is heavy due to leakage of water pipe line and ongoing maintenance work by DJB (sic).” 

Earlier, the traffic was affected on the crucial DND flyway on February 1st due to mega protest march by the farmers. The flyway was shut in the evening due to the rally. The vehicular movement resumed only after the authorities convinced them to return after lengthy negotiations. The Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway connects Uttar Pradesh with the National Capital.

At that time, the Delhi Traffic Police had cautioned commuters asking them to take alternate routes between Delhi and Noida suggesting usage of NH-9 instead of the DND to those moving to Ghazipur via Mayur Vihar because of the heavy traffic jam.

On November 11 , 2016, the Supreme Court had ordered that the DND flyway will remain toll free for commuters. The top court said while disagreeing with Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd that its refusal to stay Allahabad High Court’s verdict would cause the firm irreparable loss. The apex court had said that while the company can be compensated later if it succeeds in its appeal, it will be impossible to provide restitution to the lakhs of commuters from whom the toll fee would be collected to repay them on dismissal of the Special Leave Petition (SLP).

A bench headed by then Chief Justice TS Thakur had also asked the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) to assist in the matter and verify the company’s claim that the total cost of the project has not been recovered and submit a report within four weeks.

The bench, also comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao, had directed the firm to place before the CAG, the entire record pertaining to recovery of the total project cost of the DND flyover project as per the Agreement.

The Allahabad High Court, on October 26, 2016 had brought cheers to millions of commuters by ruling that no toll will be collected henceforth from those using the 9.2 km-long, eight-lane DND flyway. The order was passed as the High Court allowed a PIL by the Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Association.

The PIL, filed in 2012, had challenged the "levy and collection of toll in the name of user fee" by the NTBCL.

(With inputs from PTI)