NATIONAL HIGHWAY USERS OPPOSE LEVY OF ANY FURTHER TOLL ON DELHI- AMRITSAR AND DELHI- CHA

National Highway Users Association (NHUA) , the apex body of motor vehicle users on various National Highways in the country has strongly opposed introduction of new toll on Delhi –Amritsar National Highway , Ambala-Chandigarh highway and state highways in Punjab.

“ The proposed introduction of new plazas for collecting toll at Panipat and Phagwara on Delhi-Amritsar Highway and one at Ambala-Zirakpur highway linking Chandigarh and Himachal will further burden the commonman on these road stretches. A man traveling in a car on the 100 Km stretch from Ambala to Ludhiana is presently paying Rs 110 toll, which turns out to be more than Rs one per KM” said Varinder Arora, secretary, NHUA.

“The toll of Rs one per Km being charged on this stretch is already illegal and double than 50 paise per km the National toll fee fixed by the central government for car/jeep/van. The rates for commercial vehicles are hire. Similarly a Highway user between Delhi and Chandigarh is already paying about Rs 87, after introduction of toll collection plazas at Panipat and Zirakpur, the commutes will have to shell out Rs 187 for distance of 250 Km between Delhi and Chandigarh. This will be higher than the national rates fixed by the government” he added.

“The cost of travelling between Delhi and Amritsar is also likely to double. At present, one has to pay Rs 210 for the 450-kilometre drive from Delhi to Amritsar. With the addition of four toll plazas, this amount is likely to go up to Rs 410. There are three existing toll plazas at Karnal, Shambu and Dauraha. The new toll plazas will be at the Panipat flyover, in Phagwara, Kartarpur and Jandialaguru” said Mr P.K.Khurana , Convenor NHUI.

“ The introduction of multiple toll barriers, apart from financially burdening the commuters will further increase the traveling time, thus totally eliminating the benefit of using higway. The parliamentary standing committee on transport in its recommendations on various times has demanded rationalization of toll on roads as the commuters are already paying road tax and cess on fuel for development of roads“ Mr Khurana added.

"The Committee has recommended that persons travelling on smaller stretches of the National Highways where toll is being collected should be charged a lower amount than the persons using the entire length of that National Highway," he added.

“ The planned introduction of smart cards on these toll plazas on the lines of Europe, does not stand ground in India as most of the users of these highways are not frequent travelers. More over world over non toll alternate routes are also offered to commuters, while here once has no alternative than using the toll highway. A person traveling from Panipat to Kurukshetra will have to shell out Rs 140 for distance of 80 Km for one side” Said Mr Atul goyal a regular commuter.

“The road condition between Delhi and Panipat is pathetic and is taking about three hours fro 90 km stretch. It takes about 6-7 hours for reaching Chandigarh from Delhi. A distance which was covered in maximum 4-5 hours . Most of the time entire stretch is under repairs” he added

“NHUA has already written to the Union Transport Minister opposing any new toll plazas and incorporating recommendations of Parliamentary committee. The association will resort to agitation if the new tolls are introduced and costs not rationalized” Mr Arora said.