Gurgaon: Call to remove Kherki Daula toll plaza gets stronger

Industry and trade bodies along with the locals are gearing up for a repeat of the successful battle they fought to get the Sirhaul toll plaza shifted.

This time, however, the objective is to get the Kherki Daula toll plaza removed from the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway as it has become a major traffic bottleneck.

While the Toll Hatao Sangarsh Samiti has held a series of meetings in the past few weeks to streamline the agitation against government agencies, a number of industrialists in Manesar are also planning to join forces. On Saturday, the Samiti members are organising a meeting with representatives of the Toll Hatao Samiti where the proposed demonstration on May 16 would be discussed.

Full coverage: Kherki Daula takes a toll on Gurgaon

Attar Singh, president of Toll Hatao Samiti, said that they are roping in local industries, RWA members and residents to put pressure on the government and other stakeholders to remove the plaza as it has been causing problems to commuters. “The toll is too high, there is no facility of 24-hour valid tickets and jams are an everyday sight. We want the government to remove it,” said Singh.

Manesar-based industrialist Dinesh Agarwal says the government had promised that the plaza would be shifted and this should happen at the earliest. “There are fights and quarrels at the plaza over payment of toll every day,” he said. Apart from the industry and Gurgaon-based RWAs, residents of 31 villages exempted from toll are also planning to launch an agitation to get the plaza removed.

Anu Gujjar, a resident of Begumpur Khatola said that non-issuing of tags and daily arguments with the toll staff is making life difficult for villagers. “We will also join the protest and ensure this agitation is successful,” he said.

A lot needs to be done on the e-way

The Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway is 27.7 km long with 11 flyovers

The expressway has 22 exit and 19 entry points, which need to be redesigned as the merging distance for the traffic is not enough

Pedestrian bridges with escalators are required at the Sirhaul stretch, Shanker Chowk, Iffco Chowk, Rajiv Chowk and Hero Honda Chowk because of heavy pedestrian footfall

Footpaths need to be created along important stretches on the expressway particularly along junctions. Cycle tracks are also required

Bus bays and auto stops needed at important junctions to ensure movement of vehicles is not restricted

Planned elevated U-turn at Ambience Mall and underpasses at Signature Chowk, Iffco Chowk and Rajiv Chowk are required on priority basis

Safety audit of the entire expressway is the need of the hour.