After almost a month of levying green fee on vehicles from outside Himachal Pradesh by Shimla Municipal Corporation, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) mulling to remove all four green toll barriers for an indefinite period. NHAI had asked the Shimla Municipal Corporation to create bylanes at the barriers to decongest traffic.
Shimla Municipal Corporation had outsourced the project to a private firm which set up four collection barriers at Taradevi, Mehli, Tutu and Dhalli. The project was implemented on September 15. To build the bylanes, the Shimla Municipal Corporation will have to make a draft proposal which must be approved by the Centre.
On September 22, the HP high court issued a notice to the Shimla Municipal Corporation and the NHAI asking them to adhere to the contract norms. A supervisor at a collection barrier said all the four barriers were removed late Tuesday evening.
Shimla Municipal Corporation officials refused to comment. The cash-strapped civic body had hoped the project would be a major source of revenue. It was expected to generate Rs 6 crore annually. The Shimla Municipal Corporation had unanimously adopted a resolution to levy the green fee in August 2011 and sent a proposal to the Himachal government for its approval.
The state government had approved of it earlier this year, but it was held back till September 15 as it did not have NHAI’s permission.
