Three toll plazas within 60 km, Cong leads protest

Our Correspondent

Sonepat, November 16

Activists of the Congress party led by Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda today protested against the setting up of a toll plaza near Bhigan village on the National Highway-1 in the district.

Joined by five Congress MLAs—Kuldeep Sharma, Jagbir Singh Malik, Jai Tirath Dahiya, Jaiveer Singh and Sri Krishan Hooda— from the district and Sonepat traders, they also staged a dharna at the toll plaza for closure of the tax barrier.

Addressing the protesters, the MP alleged that the toll plaza was against the rules of the National Highway Authority of India. “There cannot be a third toll plaza within a distance of 60 km, whereas this is the third toll plaza within a distance of 60 km,” he said.

He alleged that setting up of new toll plazas on the national highways in the state had become a priority of the BJP government at the Centre to generate revenue at the cost of the common man.

The MP said that the widening of the NH-1 to four lanes was carried out during the Congress governments at the Centre and in the state in 2010, but no toll plaza was set up keeping in view the interests of the common man.

Claiming that the NH-334B (Meerut-Sonepat-Sampla-Loharu- Rajasthan) and NH—357A (Sonepat- Gohana- Jind-Punjab) were sanctioned in early 2014 by the UPA government, but no construction activity had been started on these highways during the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state.

He alleged that there was no progress on other approved projects, including a rail coach factory, Indian Institute of Information Technology and International Fruit and Vegetable market, in the district.

Former MP Dharam Pal Singh Malik, state Mahila wing president Sumitra Chauhan and other functionaries of the party were also present on the occasion.