Suspend Collection of Toll till Completion of Jammu-Katra Expressway : RTI Activist

 Jammu, 31/Aug/2023: Seconding the demand of Jammuites regarding  abolition  of  toll plaza and suspension of collection of toll at National Highways between Jammu to Lakhanpur(Kathua) , RTI Activist Raman Sharma has also made a formal request to Nitin Gadkari, the union minister for Road Transport and Highways in this regard.

In his online representation dated 31/08/2023 to the union minister, the RTI activist has submitted that due to long spell of rains and flash floods during this monsoon season, a major link bridge has been damaged in district Kathua.

“This damage of Tarnah bridge in Kathua  has stopped flow of traffic at National Highway and now the people are compelled to take a very long diversion of another road that is maintained by BRO.  This diversion of road is not only wasting precious time of the citizens but also causing an additional burden on them as cost of the additional fuel. Anxiety caused due to long jamming  in these diversion road is another pain to the people”,  the representation further reads.

Sharma also informed that, in his prayer to the minister he has also apprised him about the sufferings of the people due ongoing construction of Delhi_Katra expressway (6 lanning), wherein a major portion   of the national highway has been damaged, many roads, bridges and flyovers have been dismantled and there also the diversion of roads have been made, the journey which in routine takes just 60-70 minutes is now taking 3-4 hours and again it is adding fuel cost of the vehicles.

The union minister has been asked to invoke invoke rule 3 of  National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008 and exempt collection of toll and remove toll plazas at Sarore( samba district) and Lakhanpur toll ( Kathua District) till the damaged Tarnah bridge is restored and  Delhi_Katra Expressway Project is completed in J & K. 

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