Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann declares 2 Sangrur-Ludhiana highway toll plazas closed, but on last day of contract

SANGRUR: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday announced the closure of two Ludhiana road toll plazas that the famers had disliked but social media asked him why he had to make it official on the day the contract was to expire anyway from midnight.
The local farmers, who were up against these toll plazas ever since these had come up in 2015, also want the credit. Farmer unionist Karam Singh Bhawanigarh of the BKU (Ekta Dakaunda) said that: "For a long time, we agitated against these toll plazas and several cases were registered against our protesters. But we forced the incumbent government not to continue their contract. We welcome the announcement but the credit goes to our local people."
Former Dhuri MLA Dalvir Singh Goldy's close associate Sukhdeep Singh said that: "When he was legislator, Goldy got a 2-kilometre stretch built parallel to the Ladda toll plaza for easy commuting without paying the toll. For this, he faced court cases, where the toll companies asked him for damages."
Aam Aadmi Party's district in-charge for minority wing Anwar Bhadhaur claimed to be convenor of the toll plaza action committee fomed in 2015. He said: "The locals fought this battle under my command, for which I faced several cases. The closure of the toll plazas is a big relief to us."
Dhuri resident Sandeep Kumar said: "The government has taken a good decision that will benefit many commuters. The toll was hefty and collection was a scam. The people who pay road taxes deserve free roads." Malerkotla executive engineer Balwinder Singh claimed the monthly collection of the two toll plazas to be up to Rs 2.25 crore. The charges for car were Rs 60 for single trip and Rs 90 for double trip within 24 hours.
Mann claimed at a public gathering that these plazas were closed in public interest. The CM said: "The companies wanted 20-month extension or Rs 50 crore compensation for the Covid gap and farmers' agitation period, but I rejected both pleas, since Covid-19 was a global disaster, while the agitation was forced by the central lawys, for which the Union government had even apologised, later. Any other person would have agreed to the company's proposals."
The CM claimed that the toll was started on September 5, 2015, for seven years, as a 'gift' of the-then Akali government to those who had helped it win the by-election of April 2015.
He said: "Former CM Parkash Singh Badal had promised that the toll plazas will not come up but took a U-turn after winning the election. For seven years, people paid the hefty tool to pass through these gates. I also raised the issue as MP. From Monday, you will no see these plazas. Toll at every crossing escalates the prices of common goods, and the owners hike the fee at will."
The farmers had blocked many toll plazas in tPunjab and Haryana during their yearlong agitation in Delhi against three central agri-marketing laws.