The Supreme Court on Friday has ruled that the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) flyway would be toll-free, rejecting a plea by Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited (NTBCL) against the 2016 Allahabad High Court’s decision.
This judgment brings relief to the thousands of daily commuters who use the 9.2 km, eight-lane expressway.
The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, found the toll collection agreement with NTBCL to be “unjust, unfair, and arbitrary.” The court declared, “There is no justification for the continued collection of toll fees. The agreement (for toll collection) is hereby deemed invalid.”
Supreme Court Rulings
The Supreme Court strongly criticized NOIDA authorities for delegating toll collection to NTBCL, a private firm with no prior experience. This delegation, according to the court, resulted in “unjust enrichment” at the expense of the public.
The bench noted that NOIDA’s actions exceeded its jurisdiction, forcing commuters to pay hundreds of crores in toll fees without proper justification.
The controversy dates back to October 2016 when the Allahabad High Court ruled that toll collection on the DND flyway must stop. The ruling was based on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2012 by the Federation of Noida Residents’ Welfare Association, which challenged the toll’s legality.
In its ruling, the High Court highlighted that the “user fee being charged lacks legal backing,” discrediting claims by NTBCL, Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (the project’s developer), and NOIDA authorities.
It further stated that the agreement granting NTBCL toll collection rights involved “excessive delegation” and violated provisions of the U.P. Industrial Development Act.
Court verdict reinforces accountability in public resource management and eliminates an undue financial burden on commuters. By putting an end to the toll collection, the court has upheld the principles of fairness and justice, ensuring the flyway remains accessible to all without additional costs.
