As per the agreement between DS Constructions and NHAI, signed in January 2003, the former was required to complete the project by July 2005.

But with delays, which builders attribute to changes in “scope of the project”, the traffic boom and delay in sanctions from the government, the Expressway became functional only in January this year.

Although commuters between the suburb and Delhi began using the eight-lane highway last year, tolling operations on the 27-kilometer high-speed link started only in the last week of January.

Manhad Narula, director of DS Constructions, said, “We are now permitted to collect toll for 17 years.”

Meanwhile, senior NHAI officials said the reduction in number of years is the penalty for the delay and was part of the agreement as an inbuilt clause.

Meanwhile at a meeting with the NHAI , DS Constructions said the waiting time at the toll plaza had been “brought down to a maximum of eight to 10 minutes from the earlier 20 to 30 minutes in cash lanes during peak hours”.

The builders said there has been an increase in the number of tag users and that the number has gone up to 35,000 vehicles since last week when special concession schemes were announced.