GURUGRAM: An alternative route, bypassing the Kherki Daula toll plaza , built by Huda through Sector 76, was unofficially thrown open to public a week ago. The four-lane, 5km road on the eastern side of Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, connecting Southern Peripheral Road with NH-8, is almost complete, except for a 400m stretch between sectors 76 and 77.Huda plans to complete the road, work on which started in January, after the monsoons. Trucks and cars have started using this road to skip the regular jams at the toll plaza. The road merges with NH-8 a mere 300m from the toll plaza.Fearing a fall in revenues from toll collections, the Kherki Daula toll concessionaire, MCEPL, has written a letter to NHAI in May, which says, “This project is being given a completion target of July 2018, and will connect to NH-8 at the 42km milestone. If this road is connected with NH-8, the revenue generated by the toll plaza, also at 42km, will be reduced to a minimum, as maximum traffic will be diverted via the four-lane Huda road.”MCEPL further wrote that, “We request the access of this Huda road with NH-8 should not be granted, so as to repudiate clauses of the concession agreement.”Huda executive engineer Shweta Sharma said, “Construction of a mere 400m of the road is pending, which will be completed after the monsoons. We haven’t officially inaugurated the road, but trucks and cars have started using it already.”TOI did a reality check of the new road on Wednesday, and found that in a span of 5 minutes, 15-20 trucks had used the road, though cars were comparatively fewer in number. Revised toll rates, which became applicable from April 1, charge trucks Rs 190 per journey through the toll.The road is also expected to benefit residents of new sectors — 80-90 — as they will be able to reach Golf Course Road, Sohna road, Faridabad road and other parts of Gurugram without having to cross the toll plaza. Harinder Dhillon, VP (sales), DLF, said, “The road bypassing Kherki Daula toll will change New Gurugram’s travel map. It will allow commuters from Golf Course Road, Faridabad and parts of Gurugram to reach Manesar directly, without encountering the Kherki Daula toll. Not only will it enhance connectivity to New Gurugram, but also drastically reduce travel time.”Rahul Singla, director of real estate major Mapsko, echoed his sentiments: “The alternative route will act as a cherry on the cake for commuters, who won’t have to encounter traffic jams. It will also improve connectivity and herald the development of adjoining residential sectors, benefiting homebuyers.”

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