Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 29: Seeking the removal of Toll Plaza at Bann Nagrota on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, senior NPP leader and former Minister Harshdev Singh lambasted the Union Govt for doling out the most differential treatment to Jammu region in yet another field.
Mr Singh in a statement regretted that while the Union Govt 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. Hailing the closure of the said Toll Plazas elsewhere in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, 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.
Mr Singh alleged that the 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.
Pointing out 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, Mr Singh 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 Govt to refrain from dictatorial approach and settle the issue of Toll Plaza at the earliest or else be prepared for the consequences.