Azizpur toll plaza: Monthly passes refused to Rajpura residents

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 2

Newly-built toll plaza at Azizpur near Zirakpur attracted another controversy when residents of Rajpura alleged that the authorities there refused to issue monthly passes to them. Meanwhile, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is still not clear about the guidelines in this regard. The NHAI is supposed to make a list of the areas that fall under the 20-km radius of the toll plaza. 

As per notices issued by the Ministry of Road, Shipping and Transport issued in 2008, the NHAI has to provide monthly passes at lesser rates for non-commercial vehicles to the residents living within 20 km of the toll plaza.

Jennis Aggarwal, who commutes from visits Chandigarh every day, said when he approached the Azizpur toll plaza, he was told to purchase a monthly pass. “The local resident pass costs just Rs 225 per month. But I was asked to pay Rs 1,160 for a monthly pass, disregarding the rule,” he says.

Jennis further alleges, “The Azizpur toll plaza authorities said Rajpura did not fall under the 20-km radius.”

Another resident, Pankaj, an advocate, said, “More than 500 personal vehicles pass through the Azizpur toll plaza from Rajpura daily. There is no other high population area other than Rajpura which lies in the 20-km radius.” However, Bhavnesh, technical manager, said, “Until now, we have not calculated the distance from Rajpura. I will ask the person concerned to verify the claim.”