Farmers’ Protest: Toll Plazas Losing Rs 1.8 Crore Per Day, Says Govt

Picture courtesy www.tribuneindia.com

New Delhi: The Centre informed Parliament on Thursday that toll plazas on highways are facing an estimated loss of Rs 1.8 crore per day due to farmers’ protests.

Collection at toll plazas in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and NCR areas has remained suspended since early December as part of protests against the three contentious farm laws.

“Due to farmers’ protest, some of the fee plazas are non-operational, thereby the NHAI is unable to collect user fee from the road users. In case of public funded fee plazas, an estimated remittance loss is approximately Rs 1.8 crore per day,” Union Transport minister Nitin Gadkari said in a written response to a question by BJP MP PC Gaddigouda.

According to a report by credit rating agency ICRA, over 52 toll plazas – including both public funded and BOT (built, operate and transfer) — have been directly or indirectly affected due to farmers’ agitation.