Centre rules out closure of Manawala toll plaza

The Centre on Thursday ruled out any proposal to remove or close the Manawala (Nijjarpura) Toll Plaza, despite concerns raised by Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa over the “extremely poor condition” of National Highway (NH-3) between Amritsar and Beas.

Randhawa had highlighted that the toll plaza, located around 20 km from the Golden Temple, was placing an unnecessary financial burden on devotees.

In a written response, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said all user fee plazas, including the Manawala (Nijjarpura) Fee Plaza, are established in accordance with the respective notifications published in the Gazette of India, the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, and the applicable concession agreements.

Gadkari added that for providing relief, there are already various provisions for discounts in user fees and monthly passes for local and regular users of national highways across the country, in accordance with the NH Fee Rules, 2008.

Further, no fee is levied for the use of the section of national highway, permanent bridge, bypass or tunnel, as the case may be, by two wheelers, three wheelers, tractors and animal drawn vehicles provided no service road is available.

The government has also introduced a FASTag-based annual pass for non-commercial cars, jeeps and vans, effective from August 15, 2025. The pass costs Rs 3,000 and allows travel on all national highway and expressway fee plazas for one year or up to 200 fee plaza crossings, whichever comes first.