Stray cattle on Hisar toll roads a threat to life

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, October 20

The cost of travelling has gone up for motorists travelling around Hisar town with another toll plaza starting operations this week.

Local residents are dissatisfied with the facilities on the toll roads. They claim that stray cattle on all these roads continue to pose a threat to motorists.

A new toll plaza has become functional near Chikanwas village, about 15 km on the National Highway 9 leading to Sirsa. Now, all four main highways approaching Hisar via the Delhi road, Chandigarh road, Sirsa road and the Rajgarh road have toll plazas. The Hisar-Rohtak-Delhi road already has one located in Ramayan village, about 10 km from the town.

The Chandigarh road has toll plazas near Baddo Patti village and Chaudhariwas village on the Rajgarh road leading to Rajasthan.

Motorists say despite being charged a heavy fees, travel on these roads is not hassle-free. Dharampal Singh, a resident, says, “It’s the duty of the toll operators and the government to ensure safe and smooth ride to motorists.”

“It’s not safe to travel on the Sirsa road. While stray cows dot the road up to Agroha town, neelgai and deer are found on the stretch from Khara Kheri village to Sirsa. What’s the use of the toll road if the travel is fraught with dangers?” he says, maintaining fog during the winter will make these roads all the more dangerous.

Satvir Yadav, another resident, says, “Hundreds of cows and bulls are found on the Hisar-Delhi road. It is dangerous to travel on the stretch,”.

Dushyant Chautala, Hisar MP, has raised the issue of cattle menace on the highways with the Union National Highways Ministry and in the Lok Sabha. He has also taken the local administration to task for its failure to ensure cattle-free roads. “Both administration and toll operators are accountable for providing a hassle-free ride. They cannot charge toll on the roads that are incomplete or have no plan to manage stray animals,” he said.