JAMMU: Seeking the removal of Toll Plaza at Bann Nagrota on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, former Minister and Panthers Party Chairman Harsh Dev Singh lambasted the union government for doling out the most differential treatment to Jammu region in yet another field.
He regretted that while the union government has closed down 62 toll plazas across the country on National Highways and Expressways recently during the current week in ‘public interest’, the toll plaza in Jammu has been most contemptuously allowed to operate much to the chagrin and indignation of the Jammuites.
Hailing the closure of the said Toll Plazas elsewhere in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh on public demand, he questioned the State and Central governments for discriminatory treatment doled out to J&K which was also being governed by a BJP partnered government.
Admonishing the union as well as state government for their apathy and neglect of the Dogra Land, Harsh Dev Singh lamented that the duly elected MPs and MLAs of the region had miserably failed to espouse the cause of Jammu public at appropriate forums resulting in their deprivation. He regretted that despite public protests and demonstrations for removal of Bann Toll Plaza, the elected representatives failed to impress upon the concerned authorities to remove the same on the analogy of the aforesaid 62 Toll Plazas removed in various other states. Making out a strong case for closing of Bann Toll Plaza, Harsh Dev Singh said that Jammu is visited by millions of pilgrims every year who would be obliged to pay heavy taxation in the form of Toll fee for conducting their religious pilgrimage. Likewise, he pointed out that lakhs of pilgrims would be visiting the Amarnath ji shrine will also have to bear the burden of heavy taxation.
He said that imposition of Taxation on pilgrims in the form of Toll fee from Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims and Sri Amarnath ji pilgrims is like imposing ‘Jazia’ which is unacceptable and intolerable. He said that taxation of pilgrims is highly impious, irreverent and sacrilegious act which would receive stiff resistance from the Jammu people. He further cautioned the government that the said highly profane act of the government would further affect the tourist influx in the state in view of huge fee prescribed for various kinds of vehicles. He said that as per the schedule published by the NHA1 a car/jeep has to pay Rs. 85 for single journey or a monthly pass of Rs. 2810.
Likewise the rate for 7 axle vehicles is Rs. 545 for single journey or a monthly pass of Rs. 18,185. He further said that huge tax being extorted from pilgrims and tourists visiting the state would also have dissuading effect on them thus giving a blow to the tourist promotion initiatives of the government and overall economy of the state which is largely dependent upon pilgrims and tourists.
Besides, he said, there were several commuters who were daily shuttling and the toll was operating very harshly upon them. He said that huge tax fixed was unaffordable for a common man.
Moreover, the National Highway was incomplete, pot holed at various places with construction work still in progress at several locations, the government could not have launched the toll plaza at all, he maintained. He also expressed concern over the grossly inadequate and highly congested space specified for opertionalisation of the said toll plaza resulting in huge traffic jams.
Rebuking the despicable apathy and cowardice of the Saffron representatives, Harsh Dev called for immediate removal of the toll plaza Bann Jammu in public interest in conformity with decision taken by the union government with regard to identical cases in other states.
Pointing towards the web portal launched by the Union Road Transport Ministry for providing information to the road users regarding the Toll Plazas operational in the country along with fee rates for various kinds of vehicles, facilities available and emergency contact nos., Harsh further stated that the said web portal reveals that the Bann Toll Plaza is charging the highest rates without being provided with corresponding facilities.
Strongly flaying the police action on the protestors and commuters at Bann Toll Plaza yesterday who were protesting against huge fees and lack of facilities, he cautioned the state government to refrain from dictatorial approach and settle the issue of Toll Plaza at the earliest or else be prepared for the consequences.