'Toll gates causing jams on Delhi-Jaipur highway'

Instead of solving traffic problem, the two new toll gates at Kherki Daula on the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway are causing long traffic snarls, a police officer said Wednesday.

"On the Delhi-Jaipur highway, there was a narrow road used by auto drivers, motorcyclists and other slow-moving vehicles that was exempted from toll tax. But now DGSCL (Delhi-Gurgaon Super Connectivity Limited) has erected two toll gates on that stretch, causing more traffic jams," a senior police officer said.

"Moreover, the new toll gates are being operated manually. It is also without roof and proper lighting," the officer added.

In the master plan, total number of toll gates were 18 but due to unavailability of land only 16 gates were operational since Jan 25, 2008, a National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) official said.

"We have erected the two new gates as per the new MoU signed between DGSCL and NHAI on Sep 18, 2012," a DGSCL spokesperson told IANS.

Responding to a query about the new toll gates causing traffic jams, Ashok Kumar Sharma, project director of NHAI, said it was a matter of concern and his department was mulling solutions to the problem.

He also said they were awaiting a report by the common consultant for both NHAI and DGSCL.