Commuters defy ‘toll tax’ on Jammu-Srinagar highway
Srinagar: Chaos and confusion prevailed on Kashmir Highway after commuters refused to pay what they termed as ‘unreasonable’ toll tax charged by National Highways Authority of India near Kachkoot on Srinagar-Jammu Highway.
Hundreds of vehicles got stranded near Kachkoot Fee (toll) plaza after they were stopped there, asked to pay Rs 85 as toll tax. Majority of the commuters objected to the order and refused to pay the tax while some of the commuters raised anti-government slogan, accusing government of India of harassing people of Kashmir on one or the other pre-text.
Unaware about the development that NHAI has erected a toll plaza near Kachkoot, commuters on Tuesday morning came to know that they have to pay hefty sum as tax for their movement on Highway.
“This is the Ramzan gift for us from Government of India that is adopting all tactics to harass us and cripple our economy,” said a commuter.
Another commuter said that all the decisions being taken in Kashmir are anti-people.
“An active anti-Kashmir lobby ruling the roost is seeking pleasure from harassment meted out to the people of Kashmir. First, it was highway ban and now imposition of heavy tax. This is sheer injustice towards us,” he said.
Kashmir economy is already in doldrums. The highway ban in force has affected business community badly, said another commuter.
“One fails to understand how can one manage to pay Rs 170 for his to and fro journey on daily basis when he may not be able to earn this much amount as his daily living,” he said.
“This is outrageous. How can government impose such a harsh order against people of Kashmir asking us to pay Rupees 170 per day for moving to and fro on the highway,” said a commuter, showing a receipt of Rs 85 collected as toll by National Highways Authority of India.
Another person from Ganderbal said that he was shocked when asked to pay Rs 85 before being allowed to move on the thoroughfare.
“We don’t earn as much as what is being charged. Having already banned civilian traffic on highway by virtue of order on April 3, it seems that the authorities by imposing such harsh tax have decided to completely shut the highway for the civilians throughout the week,” he said.
He said that the toll tax is not applicable for people living within the radius of 20 kilometers from the Toll Plaza.
“I fall beyond the limits, meaning thereby that I have to pay Rs 170 every day I move beyond Sangam and on return back,” he said.
As the toll was started to be collected from Tuesday most of the people protested against it and refused to pay, leading to the traffic jam on the highway around the toll plaza, reports and eyewitness said.
When contacted Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan said that the issue was taken up by him with authorities in New Delhi, and from now onwards people living within 20 kilometers radius of the toll plaza will not have to pay any tax.
“A formal notification in this regard will be issued soon,” the Divisional Commissioner said. (with inputs from GNS, CNS)
