Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday closed the tenth toll plaza in the state on Moga-Kotakpura road near Chand Puraana, thereby saving Rs 44.43 lakh daily from the pocket of the common man.
Mann, interacting with the media persons after closing Singhawala toll plaza, said that the people had to pay a hefty amount of Rs 44.43 while crossing these 10 toll plazas. “However, with the closing of these 10 toll plazas, people will be immensely benefited and get major relief. The people crossing on Moga Kotakpura road had to pay Rs 4.68 lakh daily while crossing this Singhwala toll plaza but now their money will be saved,” he added.
Bemoaning that these toll plazas were in reality the shops for open loot of the general public, Mann said that these tolls had plundered the public by flouting all the norms as per their agreement. “It is surprising that instead of taking action against them in the larger public interest, the successive state governments had patronized this loot by keeping a blind eye towards their misdeeds…Even though the people had elected the governments for securing their interests, these power-mad politicians shielded such defaulters just for their own vested interests,” he said.
Mann said that the previous governments ignored the ambiguities of these erring toll plazas and allowed them to mint the money illegally without bothering the general public. He said that at none of the toll plazas, shut so far, the facility of ambulance or recovery van was visible despite the provision for it in the agreement.
The Chief Minister said that the agreement of this toll plaza was signed on September 25, 2006, during the Capt Amarinder Singh Government and the toll was imposed for 16.50 years. He said that the first overlay of road, which was to be done by the company, was delayed by 158 days after which a fine of Rs 2.48 crore was imposed on the company. This fine was never recovered from the company by the government, he added.
“The toll could have been shut down on November 10, 2019, when the second overlay was not done and a fine worth Rs 3.89 crore was imposed on the erring company. It was a violation of the agreement because as per it, if the amount of fine exceeded Rs 3.11 crore, the contract could have been terminated. But, it never happened and the people in power allowed the company to flout the norms,” he said.
Mann said that after assuming the charge of office, his government had started the process of freeing these toll plazas as per which these toll plazas have been closed. He said that the company was seeking an extension on the pretext of farmers’ agitation and COVID pandemic but his government has denied it. “60 days prior notice needs to be given to the company due to which they have served the notice to the company and closed the toll plaza today. This work should have been done earlier but none of our predecessors bothered to secure the interests of people,” he said, adding that rather they worked zealously for protecting the rights of the companies managing the toll plaza.
He said that more such toll plazas will be freed in coming days to give respite to the people.