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• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) seems to be in a dilemma over the issue of increasing toll charges for the Delhi-Gurgaon stretch. Since the authority has already sent the termination order to the private concessionaire, DSC Ltd, it's now seeking legal opinion on whether the mandatory revision of user fee is possible.Sources in the NHAI said that the private concessionaire recently sent the proposal to revise the user fee for each category of vehicle for the next financial year. "It's a complex situation now as we have served the termination order. So, how can we engage in any way to increase the toll rate? We have sought the guidance of our legal counsel on how to go about it. It's too early to comment on how we will go about it," said an NHAI official.

• As per the concession agreement, the toll charges would be revised every year. Revision of toll charges is done on the basis of the changes in the wholesale price index (WPI). The WPI is decided on a monthly basis.The toll rates are revised every year for all the three toll plazas on the 27.7-kilometre stretch. All vehicles barring two-wheelers and three-wheelers pay toll for using the expressway.While at least 1.9 lakh vehicles pass through the 32-lane plaza on Delhi-Gurgaon border, the traffic flow is also huge at Kherki Dhaula toll plaza. As per the norm, the new toll rates come to effect from April 1. The NHAI has to clear the issue and notify it in advance for timely implementation so that there is no revenue loss to the developer and the government as well.Interestingly, the issue of termination comes up for hearing in the Delhi High Court on March 27.

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