NHAI awaits govt’s nod to shift Rajbagh toll plaza to Lakhanpur
AVINAV VERMA. Updated: 1/22/2020 10:21:01 AM
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JAMMU: Following abolition of state tax collection center from Lakhanpur, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is awaiting clearance from the government of Jammu and Kashmir to shift the proposed toll plaza at Rajbagh at the entry point known of Union Territory.
“We are still waiting for the signal of Jammu and Kashmir government. Once we receive the clearance, we will start toll collection centre within a week,” NHAI’s General Manager, Jammu Hem Raj told The News Now.
This scribe has learnt that before the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, NHAI has earlier also take up issue with the erstwhile state’s excise department.
“The process could not be completed as the excise department was unwilling to handover the land and the building to NHAI,” another official associated with the process said.
“In meantime the highway authority had purposed to setup toll plaza at Rajbagh area of district Kathua, which drew ire from several section of society. They alleged that the establishment of toll plaza at Rajbagh is violating norms of Union Ministry of Road and Transport. The distance between toll plaza Thandikui in district Samba and purposed toll plaza at Rajbagh is not at par with norms,” he added.
“Now after the implementation of J&K Reorganization Act 2019, the administration of Union Territory on December 31 abolished all inter-state toll plaza including at Lakhnpur. The decision had paved way for NHAI to setup toll collection centre at the same place, which will also not violate the norms of the Ministry of Union Ministry of Road and Transport,” he said.
“Now NHAI is pushing the government for clearance. Once it receives clearance, the toll plaza will be made functional at the earliest,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that on October 11, NHAI operationalise toll plaza at Thandikhui —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.
However, NHAI yesterday defended its move and claimed the established with prior consent of Government of India (GOI).
Moreover, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has realized Rs 244.47 crore in last five years from the Toll Plazas across Jammu regions.