After 46 days of protest, Punjab's costliest Ladhowal toll plaza opens amid tight police security

Nikhil Bhardwaj
Ludhiana, July 31

After 46 days of long protest by the different farmer unions at the state's most expensive Ladhowal toll plaza, the barrier has now been opened and the commuters will have to shell out hefty toll fee to pass it.

A large number of police personnel has been deployed since early morning on Wednesday at the barrier.

Meanwhile, some farmers reached the toll barrier on the call given by Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Union Punjab president Dilbagh Singh to prevent NHAI from opening it.

However, few leaders, including Dilbagh Singh, were detained by police near the toll barrier.

The toll barrier was thrown open early in the morning and the staff started charging fee from the commuters.

Dilbagh Singh had earlier reiterated that even if the High Court orders would come against the farmer unions they would not allow NHAI to open this toll barrier and would not let them charge hefty fee from the commuters.

Notably, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had recently issued an order for re-opening of the toll plaza. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had moved the high court, demanding resumption of toll collection at the plaza.

The Punjab Government had sought four-week time for the re-opening of the toll plaza.

Farmers have been demanding decrease in the toll and had said they would not allow toll collection till the NHAI agreed to reduce the toll to Rs 100 or Rs 150 for multiple rides within 24 hours.