The division bench of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has given great relief to the devotees and tourists coming from outside states along with the common people of the state. The High Court has directed the National Highway Authority of India that until the work of the National Highway from Lakhanpur to Udhampur is completed and until the traffic is completely smooth, only 20 percent toll tax of the total toll tax should be recovered from the drivers on Lakhanpur and Ban toll plazas.
In the Division Bench of the High Court, Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice MA Chaudhary gave the above instructions during the hearing in the PIL filed by Sugandha Sahni, resident of Trikuta Nagar.
This PIL was filed on February 5 on behalf of Sugandha Sahni, on which the bench did not take any decision on that day and on Friday, accepting this PIL, instructed the National Highway Authority of India and the state administration to implement the above instructions with immediate effect.
Court gave these orders regarding toll plaza tax
In the PIL, the order of NHAI was also challenged, in which the Authority had decided to re -determine the tax on Lakhanpur and Ban toll plaza after the closure of the cold Khui toll plaza from 26 January 2024. The High Court also directed to withdraw this order within a week.
The High Court said that when the National Highway construction from Lakhanpur to Udhampur is not completed and traffic is not smooth, till then only 20 percent tax should be collected in Lakhanpur and Ban toll plaza before 26 January 2024.
The High Court said that a survey will have to be taken by conducting a survey from a fair agency to smooth traffic on the National Highway and when NHAI gets its certificate. Only then should the recovery of the entire tax be started at Lakhanpur and Ban toll plaza.
Resentment expressed on the increasing number of toll plazas
The Division Bench of the High Court expressed displeasure over the increasing number of toll plazas in the Union Territory of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the toll plaza in both the union territories has become a medium to recover from the common man.
The High Court said that NHAI should review the toll plaza set up in both union territories and if there is a toll plaza within 60 km, it should be removed within the next two months.
The High Court said that there is no doubt that the revenue earned from toll tax is used on development works but toll tax should not be heavy on the public’s pocket.
The High Court found that from 20 March 2015 to 24 December 2024, there was a recovery of 659.54 crore on the toll plaza, a recovery of 355.77 crore from 22 July 2020 to 24 December 2024 on Lakhanpur toll plaza and Rs 227.88 crore from 11 October 2019 to 26 January 2024 at the cold Khui toll plaza.
1243 crore toll tax recovery
In such a situation, a toll tax of Rs 1243 crore was charged on these three toll plazas. The High Court found that according to news reports, a toll tax of Rs 24 thousand crore was recovered in India in 2020 and after the fast tag in January 2020 it increased to 34 thousand crores. In such a situation, it seems that toll plazas are being established only to put the burden on the public.
The Division Bench of the High Court has also given strict warning to the contractors taking the toll plaza contractors from NHAI. The High Court said that if a contractor puts a person with a criminal image on the toll plaza, then action should also be taken against him.
The High Court said that it has also come to their attention that goon elements are kept for recovery at the toll plaza, which cannot be accepted. The High Court said that before appointing any worker at the toll plaza, the contractor will have to get the person verified from the concerned police station and if there is any perfectly found in it, the SHO of the area concerned will be responsible.
Lakhanpur toll plaza rate- one-way travel
- Car-Jip: Rs 135
- Small business vehicles: Rs 210
- Bus Trok: Rs 440
- Three Excel vehicles: Rs 480
- Four to six Excel vehicles: Rs 695
- Vehicles larger than six Excel: Rs 645
- Ban toll plaza rate-one-sided travel
- Car-Jip: Rs 170
- Small business vehicles: Rs 275
- Bus Trok: Rs 585
- Three Excel vehicles: Rs 635
- Four to six Excel vehicles: Rs 910
- Vehicles larger than six Excel: Rs 1110
