Facing opposition barbs over providing separate lane for the MlAs and MPs at the toll plazas in the event of traffic pile-up as promoting VIP culture in UP, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath withdrew the facility with immediate effect. In a new directive issued by state additional chief secretary and principal secretary (PWD) Sadakant says that the advisory issued on July 13 for separate lane at the Toll Plazas for the MlAs and MPs has been withdrawn. “There is no need for construction or allocation of separate lane for the vehicles of the MlAs and MPs at the Toll Plazas in the state. They will continue to go through the lane meant for common vehicles,” the fresh order says.
The directive has been sent to all the districts and concerned authorities for immediate action, principal secretary Sadakant said. In his earlier letter to district magistrates across UP dated July 13, additional chief secretary Sadakant said that as per rules notified by the Centre no road toll would be charged from any MlA or MlC of the UP Assembly or MPs from the state. “All district magistrates will ensure that toll plazas under their jurisdiction will provide a separate lane to MPs and MlAs in the event of traffic jams,” the letter said adding that the authorities of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are expected to cooperate in the matter.
Once this letter was made public it drew the ire of opposition. Parties as they questioned the need to have a separate VIP lane. Instead, they said, government should provide separate lanes for emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire engines. “The way government has withdrawn this order is clear indication that government officials have not applied their brains before issuing the first order. It has never specified the need to have VIP lane in toll plazas,” SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhry said. Earlier Congress vice-president Satyadeo Tripathi had questioned the need for Government’s VIP land order when BJP says it has curbed VIP culture by removing red and blue beacons.