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NHAI in a Bind Over Issuing Termination Notice to Gurgaon E-Way Develope

  • The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is in a bind over the Delhi High Court's directive to issue termination notice to the developer of Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. Nine days after the HC order, the Authority is yet to issue the notice since it is still awaiting the nod from NHAI chief and highways minister C P Joshi. The HC had asked NHAI to serve the notice within four days of passing its order.Sources in the NHAI said that the notice - to be served to the concessionaire Delhi-Gurgaon Super Connectivity Ltd (DGSCL) - was sent to highways secretary A K Upadhyaya, who holds additional charge of NHAI chairman. But since he was on leave, it could not be sent till Monday.
  • Rules stipulate that the notice has to be approved by the minister. Hence, Upadhyaya sent it to Joshi, explaining the legal implication. But, the minister left for Mumbai on Monday afternoon, and will be back here on Wednesday, causing the delay."We have told the court that we want to terminate the project because of the frauds committed by the developer," said an NHAI official.The NHAI had recently informed Delhi HC that it sticks to its decision to slap a termination notice and call off the partnership. The HC will take up the case next on March 1.Earlier, the EC gad given both disputing parties 15 days to work out a solution after NHAI slapped a preliminary termination to the developer.

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