Sarore Toll Plaza | NHAI defends, BJP seeks deferment

TNN Bureau. Updated: 10/16/2019 9:35:54 AM

JAMMU: Private bus services along the Jammu-Pathankot highway remained suspended for the second day on Tuesday to protest the newly set up toll plaza at Sarore in Samba district, even as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) defended its decision to set up the toll plaza and assured the people of hassle free movement of traffic.

Union Minister and Member of Parliament from Udhampur constituency, Dr Jitendra Singh said he talked to Nitin Gadkari, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways about the issue.

“I have suggested the ministry to defer the toll plaza in view the peculiar circumstances when Jammu and Kashmir is in the process of transition into Union Territory,” Singh, a Minister of State in PMO said.

The toll plaza was inaugurated by the NHAI on October 11—seven years after its original schedule--drawing strong opposition from residents and political parties, including the BJP, which wrote a two-page letter to the Union Transport Ministry seeking its removal.

Transporters staged demonstrations at different places for the second day. Commuters, including students and office goers, faced hardships in getting from one place to another.
Meanwhile, the NHAI said the toll plaza had been set up in accordance with the established norms followed across the country.
"We want to clarify that there was no violation of guidelines in setting up the toll plaza at Thandikhui near Sarore. The traffic is being smoothened and reduced day by day to ensure no traffic jam," project director, NHAI, Project Implementation Unit, Ajay Kumar Rajak, told reporters at a press conference here.
“The traffic congestion on the first day was due to non-cooperation of commuters who do not want to pay the user fee. The traffic congestion has now significantly reduced. Dedicated lanes have been allotted for buses, trucks, light motor vehicles and VIP vehicles,” he added.
He admitted that infrastructure of toll plaza is inadequate to cater rush of traffic.

“This is temporary infrastructure and it will be converted into permanent within six months,” he said.

Rajak said the NHAI had started issuing monthly passes to commuters which would help to further reduce the congestion and the number of toll booths would also be increased to ease the traffic flow.

“We will solve the genuine issues of protesters as per the rules. I will do whatever possible as per the rules,” he said.

“I appeal to people of districts Jammu and Samba that the toll plaza is not burden on you. It is your small contribution towards the development of nation and roads of the country,” he said.

There are four toll plazas in Jammu and Kashmir and they are generating a cumulative income of Rs 195.6 crore annually.

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