The Kherki Daula toll plaza in Gurugram, India, is poised for relocation to Panchgaon, as the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) gears up to transfer approximately 30 acres of land to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) within the next month. This strategic move aims to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce pollution on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway.
The initiative gained momentum nearly six years after Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the toll’s relocation during a public meeting in Badshahpur on August 14, 2017. Gadkari had emphasized that the shift would occur towards Jaipur if the Haryana government facilitated free land for NHAI’s construction.
PC Meena, CEO of GMDA, confirmed that the 30-acre parcel, acquired by the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), has been handed over to GMDA for the proposed toll plaza construction. Meena stated, “We will transfer the land, free of encumbrances, to NHAI in the coming days. The toll plaza relocation and the construction of a new toll plaza at Panchgaon will be overseen by NHAI.”
On November 24, GMDA empowered its revenue officials to take possession of the 30-acre land in Panchgaon from HSIIDC, as per a letter issued by the project coordinator at GMDA.
Meena highlighted that relocating the Kherki Daula toll plaza would significantly ease traffic congestion, particularly on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway. He expressed optimism that removing the toll plaza and opening the Dwarka expressway would facilitate smoother vehicle movement, benefiting commuters heading to developing sectors, Manesar, and beyond. Additionally, the initiative is expected to contribute to reduced pollution.
In May of the current year, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced the state’s active efforts towards removing the Kherki Daula toll plaza. He stated, “Paying toll fees is not an issue for most people, and the removal of toll barriers is under active consideration.”
However, a senior NHAI official expressed unawareness regarding the proposed land transfer to Panchgaon for the new toll plaza construction. Despite this, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, in April of the current year, affirmed that the Kherki Daula toll plaza would be relocated once the Dwarka expressway became operational. Gadkari clarified that only the toll plaza would shift, while tolling would continue on the Dwarka expressway and Delhi-Gurgaon expressway using GPS technology.
The process to shift the Kherki Daula toll plaza commenced in 2017, with the initial plan to relocate it to Sehrawan near Manesar. However, environmental concerns led to complications, and the proposal to transfer 65 acres of land to NHAI at Sehrawan could not be executed. Subsequently, around 50 acres of land at Panchgaon were allotted in 2018, and HSIIDC was tasked with acquiring the land for the new toll plaza.
The land acquisition process faced challenges, including litigation from farmers in Panchgaon, leading to a prolonged legal battle that involved the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Despite these hurdles, GMDA has now secured 30 acres of encumbrance-free land, paving the way for the imminent transfer to NHAI and subsequent toll plaza relocation.
Panchgaon residents expressed concerns, emphasizing the need for the state government to pay interest on compensation to landowners, construct an underpass, and shift the toll plaza towards Bilaspur. Their stance reflects ongoing legal battles related to land acquisition and a demand for infrastructure improvements to address local residents’ needs.