15 villages exempt from toll at Rohad
Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Jhajjar, February 8
The West Haryana Highways Projects Private Limited has decided to exempt vehicles of residents of all 15 villages located within the 8-km ambit of the Rohad toll plaza from toll tax.
As per the decision, the company will issue free passes to the villagers for their private vehicles, while no exemption will be given to commercial vehicles and they will have to pay the toll tax as per the tariff.
Sources said the decision had been taken to resolve the ongoing row between the villagers and the company over the toll tax. However, sarpanches of the nearby villages seemed dissatisfied with the decision and had demanded exemption of tax for their commercial vehicles too.
The villages include Rohad, Aasoda, Bhapdoda, Kharhar, Matan, Mandhothi, Dahkora, Jassaur Kheri, Nilothi, Loharheri, Jakhoda, Asanda, Naya Baans, Garhi and Ismaila.
“Earlier, we used to issue a monthly pass of Rs 150 to residents of 15 villages, but most of the villagers were against this system and they used to pass through the toll barrier forcibly without paying the tax leading to a scuffle. Hence, we have now decided to give free passage to their private vehicles, but they will have to get a pass issued from us to avail the benefit,” said Englesh Sharma, an official with the Rohad toll plaza.
He said no private vehicle would be allowed to pass through the toll barrier without the pass.
“The villagers will have to pay the tax for their commercial vehicles. The decision was taken during a meeting recently which was attended by Bahadurgarh SDM and representatives of the gram panchayats of all the villages,” he said.
Meanwhile, Satpal Singh, sarpanch of Mandhothi village, and president of the All-Haryana Sarpanch Association, has termed the decision illogical and demanded exemption of all the vehicles of the villages from paying the toll tax.
“The company will issue free passes on the name of vehicle owners. There are a large number of vehicles which are yet to be transferred in the names of the residents of the villages. In such situation, the villagers might face problem in getting the passes,” he added.
