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RTI clears path for expressway accountability

It’s official now. In response to an RTI application, the National Highway Authority of India has stated that the operation and maintenance of the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway is the responsibility of the concessionaire, M/s Jaypee DSC Ventures Ltd, since January 23, 2008.

“As per the Concession Agreement, the concessionaire has to take all reasonable precautions for the prevention of accidents on the project highway and to provide all reasonable assistance and emergency medical aid to accident victims,” the NHAI reply maintained. It further stated that in case the negligence of the concessionaire is proved, action may be taken against it.

The concessionaire, however, has failed to provide these facilities till date, due to which, over 100 people died since the Expressway was commissioned.

According to an NHAI official, the provision of first-aid, ambulance, route patrol, etc were part of the operation and maintenance of the concession agreement.

Asked about the provision of CCTVs, speed monitors and other infrastructure for the safety of motorists, the official, however, passed the buck.

“The approximate cost of putting up CCTVs along the entire stretch would be Rs 30 crore. Also, the job of issuing challans to speedsters and traffic violators is the job of the traffic police,” the official said.

He, however, admitted that it was the job of the Concessionaire to rush an accident victim to the nearest hospital. “But they are not liable to pay any compensation to the victims or their families, as per the contract,” he added.

“Over 50 pedestrians have died while crossing the road amid heavy traffic and a number of motorists have died due to lack of proper operation management and emergency medical facilities,” said K S Anand, who lost his 19-year-old son in an accident on the Expressway. “Nobody came to the rescue of my son for about half-an-hour. Then, a passer-by took him to a hospital, but he could not be saved,” said Anand.