BBMB employees up in arms over Rs 70 toll at Himachal border

Employees of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) today staged a protest on Bhakra Road, voicing their anger against the Rs 70 entry toll imposed at Himachal Pradesh’s border points.

The demonstration was led by the Nangal Bhakra Mazdoor Sangh (INTUC and Joint Front), which termed the toll tax as unjust, especially for employees and local residents commuting daily on roads maintained by the board itself.

Union leaders said the road between Nangal and Bhakra, which spans 5-7 km, is built and maintained by the BBMB. Despite this, employees are required to pay toll multiple times a day.

INTUC president Satnam Singh Ladi said the issue had already been brought to the attention of the Bilaspur Deputy Commissioner, SDM Naina Devi and the BBMB management, but to no avail.

The union demanded that BBMB employees and residents within a 5-km radius of Nangal be exempted from the toll. Protesters cited the recently revised toll policy by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which promoted a fairer system and supported exemptions for local residents.

The union has warned that if the issue was not addressed promptly, they would intensify their movement to protect public interests. Earlier, the Nangal Municipal Council had passed a unanimous resolution proposing reciprocal tax on Himachal vehicles entering the city.