Delhi-Noida Direct flyway to remain toll-free, says Supreme Court

Supreme Court declares Delhi-Noida-Direct flyway toll-free, benefiting daily commuters, deeming toll collection agreement invalid.

The Supreme Court on Friday (December 20, 2024) ruled that the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) flyway will be toll-free as it dismissed a plea by a private firm challenging the 2016 decision of the Allahabad High Court order asking it to stop collecting toll from commuters.

The decision will benefit lakhs of people who commute daily on the flyway.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan held that awarding a contract to private firm Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited (NTBCL) to collect toll from commuters plying on the DND flyway was unjust, unfair and arbitrary.

“There is no reason for the collection of user or toll fee to continue. We hold that the agreement (for toll collection) is invalid,” the bench said.

It pulled up the NOIDA authority for delegating toll collection to private firm NTBCL, which did not have any prior experience and said it has resulted in unjust enrichment.

The bench said NOIDA overstepped its authority by delegating the powers to NTBCL to collect or levy fees and it has led the general public to part with hundreds of crores of rupees.

The High Court, in October 2016, had ruled that there will be no toll collected henceforth from those using the 9.2 km-long, eight-lane Delhi-Noida Direct flyway. The order was passed as the High Court allowed a PIL by the Federation of Noida Residents' Welfare Association.