SHIMLA, MARCH 17: The Sanwara Toll Plaza on the Kalka-Shimla national highway has come under lens of Himachal Pradesh High Court. High Court has directed National Highway Authority of India(NHAI) to file an affidavit stating present status of incomplete portion of two KM stretch and construction of an over-bridge at the beginning of Parwanoo-Solan section.
High Court also directed NHAI to inform the period of time they are likely to complete such construction. The Court has also directed NHAI to give details of the amenities and beautification along the Highway.
A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice, Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, passed these orders on a public interest litigation filed by one Adit Singal. Petitioner has alleged the establishment of the Toll Plaza at Sanwara in Solan district is illegal and contrary to the Rules of National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.
He has alleged that as per rules no Toll Plaza can be established in the same section within a distance of 60 kms, whereas another Toll Plazas are situated in Chandimandir, district Panchkula and at Parwanoo in District Solan within 60 kilometers from the Sanwara Toll Plaza. He has also alleged that the completion certificate stating completion of 95 percent work has been wrongly issued in favour of M/s G. R Infraprojects by the National Highways Authority of India.
He further has alleged that the toll is being levied before completion of construction work and major part of the construction work of flyover and its under pass at Kumarhatti, Saproon and Timber Trail Resort at Parwanoo are not complete and will take months or may be a year or more to be completed. The petitioner has alleged that the public is compelled to pay toll for incomplete facilities that too at exorbitant rates.
