Journey on 291 km long six lane national highway between Panipat and Jalandhar will cost Rs 25 more from September 1, 2022 due to increase in toll tax at Toll Plaza in Haryana as well as Punjab purring additional financial burden on vehicle owners travelling on this route. Passengers travelling on this route expressed deep concern over frequent cases of increase in toll tax by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) providing additional financial burden on public without giving them any additional relief, rather condition of road, street lighting worsening.
Controversy between NHAI and the firm Soma Company providing services and collecting amount of toll tax at Toll Plaza on this highway vide contract in May 2008 and project completed in 2011 which delayed due to one reason or other. According to contract, Soma Company was to collect toll tax till year 2024 responsible for maintenance and services on six lane highway which collapsed due to farmers’ agitation and the contract terminated. Now NHAI has taken decision to increase toll tax at Gharaunda Toll Plaza, Ghaggar Toll Plaza and Ladowal Toll Plaza on this 291 km long highway.
Surprisingly, Panipat and Gharaunda toll plaza are situated at a short distance and this question was also raised in Lok Sabha session when Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari assured to solve the issue immediately but to no result so far thus putting only addition burden on travelling passengers..
