Deadlock over Palwal toll continues

Tribune News Service

Palwal, June 26

The deadlock between the Toll Sangharsh Samiti and operators of the newly built toll plaza on National Highway Number-19 at Gadpuri village continues. The samiti has decided to continue its stir against it.

land acquired illegally

Five acres belonging to the village panchayat has been acquired in an illegal manner. The notice issued by the BDPO against this move has been ignored. — Karan Dalal, Former MLA

Toll rates announced

• Earlier expected to be operational from June 1, the toll plaza has failed to start operations in view of the ongoing protest
• The toll operator has already announced the toll rates, besides launching the process of issuing passes at a concessional rate for the residents of villages located in its vicinity

Charging that half of the toll plaza was built illegally on panchayat land of Gadpuri village, the protesters have announced that it would not be allowed to function till a compensation for the land acquired was released to the village panchayat.

The announcement to continue the agitation in the form of a dharna at the toll plaza came after a resolution was adopted by a mahapanchayat of the residents of several villages held at the toll plaza point today.

Headed by Kartar Singh Jaildar of Dudhola village, it was attended by three former MLAs, including Karan Dalal, a former minister; Raghubir Singh Tewatia and Tek Chand Sharma, both former MLAs from Prithla Assembly constituency, among others.

Representatives of the Tewatia Pal and BKU leader Rattan Singh Sorot were among over 200 persons who attended the meeting.

Addressing it, Karan Dalal alleged that while five acres belonging to the village panchayat had been acquired in an illegal manner, no resolution has been passed by the panchayat. The notice issued by the BDPO against this move has been ignored.

Claiming that the market rate of the land occupied for almost 50 per cent of the toll plaza was valued at around Rs 25 crore, he said not a single penny has been given as compensation.

Describing the plaza as technically illegal, he said the company maintaining the national highway is not authorised to collect toll as two of the main flyovers built by it on this passage were four-laned, against the norms of six-lane.

He said the protest would continue as a meeting with officials of the Delhi Agra Toll Road (DATR) today failed to resolve the issue.

Earlier expected to be operational from June 1, the toll plaza has failed to start in view of the ongoing protest. The toll operator has already announced the toll rates for the vehicles besides launching the process of issuing passes at a concessional rate for the residents of villages located in its vicinity.

Officials of the DATR were not available for their comments in this regard.

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