The ministry had announced in Lok Sabha that the deadline for the opening was December 31, 2007. But with several “remaining works”, it is expected only by month-end or later, and sources said the ministry isn't amused about the consistent delays in this “prestigious project”.

“It’s very well to say that all flyovers except one are ready and it will open soon,” a senior ministry official said. “But how can it be allowed to open like this? Construction activity is still on at the toll plaza at Kapashera and point of sales area at the Delhi-Haryana border.

“Similarly the pedestrian underpass just before the Haldiram shop is still under-construction. The whole area around the Rao Tula Ram Marg flyover is in a complete mess. How can they be allowed to open and toll the project?

“The ministry has no doubts that the concessionaire for the project has all but failed miserably.”

H S Kohli, director, D S Constructions, told Newsline by email: “The physical construction work on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, including the RTR-Palam flyover, is nearly completed. We are now in the process of finalising formalities, conducting mock trials etc, and simultaneously coordinating with associated agencies for successful inauguration shortly.”

But a ministry official said, “Physical completion is one thing but it has also to be ensured that the expressway is safe for operation. Adequate signage is still missing across several sections of the expressway. Besides, the black spots or accident-prone sections have seen no remedial action like installation of energy absorbers and barriers.”

The ministry has made its displeasure known to concessionaire DS Constructions and has held rounds of meetings on why the project is “yet to be completed” despite several extensions of deadlines.

While the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) may have notified toll rates, the ministry says this was done to just meet the mandatory requirement to notify rates 10 days before the project is commissioned.

“Tomorrow they might just say they were not allowed to toll after completion so the ministry is ensuring that all eventualities are kept in mind. Minutes of each and every meeting with the concessionaire have been kept so that the concessionaire cannot question us later,” the official said. The expressway has consistently missed all deadlines, including the December 31, 2007, one. Originally it was to be completed in July 2005. The deadline was later revised to December 2006 keeping in view revisions made by Delhi and Haryana governments.