The closure of the toll plaza caused a loss of 1348.77 crores from October 2020 to December 2021.
The central government has expressed deep displeasure over the forced closure of the toll plaza in Punjab. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways wrote a letter to Punjab Chief Secretary K. AP Sinha on this issue and told that such an incident between October 2020 and November 2024
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In this letter written on April 4, the secretary of the ministry V. Umashankar said that the construction and maintenance of the National Highway Authority of India, ie NHAI projects, has been badly affected due to repeated interruptions in toll recovery. Along with this, the Center is also considering making this deficit with the state government.
Cheema said- Central government should compensate
At the same time, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema’s statement has also come about this matter. Harpal Cheema has said that the closure of the toll plaza is due to the demands of the farmers, and these demands belong to the central government. In such a situation, the central government should also compensate for the loss. He said that the Punjab government has been in favor of dialogue with farmers, but this matter is related to national policy, so the Center will have to find a solution.
From 2022 to 2023, there was a loss of 41.83 crores.
Toll closed for 1 month in 2024
The ministry also said that 24 toll plazas of Punjab remained completely closed from 17 October to 13 November 2024. Only after the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, they could be resumed. Apart from this, there was a loss of 1 thousand 348.77 crore from October 2020 to December 2021 and 41.83 crore from 2022 to 2023.
The central government says that interruptions in toll operations not only disrupt the development of infrastructure. Rather, the government also has to compensate for the damage done to toll recovery agencies. Which puts pressure on the state exchequer. The ministry has requested the Punjab government to ensure that there is no hindrance in toll collection in future with the district administration.
There is a hindrance in development
The letter also states that the amount received from toll recovery helps in the development, maintenance of national highways and strengthening the country’s economy through GST. In such a situation, such obstacles affect the development of the whole country.
Along with this letter, the Ministry has also sent documents and data related to the damage to the Punjab government, and asked the state to take immediate steps. This issue has now become a matter of coordination and determination of responsibility between the state and the central government. In the coming time, all the results of the conversation between the Center and the state will be monitored by everyone.