NHAI records loss of over Rs 100 Crore from Punjab Toll Plazas.
M4PNews|Chandigarh
On 21st Sep 2020, three Farm Bills 2020 enforced by the Central Government after which farmers started the series of agitation in Punjab. State Government of Punjab brought another three bills to eradicate possible loss to farmers so that farmers shall put an end to their agitation. Still, Farmers’ Unions are agitating and have affected one of the major fundraisers for any State i.e. Toll Plaza income. Hence, Punjab Farmers’ agitation brought loss to their own State Punjab, and Punjabis.
It’s been a month since different farmers’ unions are agitating and have stopped the working of Toll plazas. As per the NHAI data, Punjab has 23 Toll Plazas that are directly under NHAI and 2 Toll Plazas of Punjab (Ladowal and Ludhiana-Talwandi) under BOT (Built, Operate and Transfer). These Toll plazas are major fundraisers for State as Central Government pass these funds to Development Funds and hands over to State Government for development.
As per Regional Office Chandigarh of NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) Punjab earns Rs 3.5 Crore per day. Hence, Rs 105 Crore per month. Now, this income has to come back into State’s Govt account for the development of Punjab. While having word with R P Singh, GM Tech, Regional Office, Chandigarh, he explains that 23 Toll plazas of Punjab are directly under NHAI and its income is given to State Govt under Development funds. So whenever any agitation or hurdle occurs in the operation of Toll Plazas due to any such agitation specifically, it would hammer the development funds.
Raveen Thukral, Media Adviser to Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh says that they are looking into this issue.