Jammu, Aug 24: Amid heated arguments between the BJP leaders from Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) and the top officers of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) at New Delhi over toll collection at Sarore, the Union and Road and Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari, on Thursday directed the NHAI to immediately depute a team to Jammu and give a detailed report with 2 to 3 days.
In view of the large-scale public outrage against tax collection at Sarore toll Plaza in Jammu, the BJP leaders namely, Devender Manyal, Chander Parkash Ganga, Surjeet Singh Slathia (former ministers), and J&K UT BJP President, Ravinder and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma on Thursday visited Delhi to meet Nitin Gadkari to demand for suspension of toll collection.
Except for Raina, all other BJP leaders met Gadkari in the afternoon today. “We apprised the union minister in detail about the ground situation and also informed him that 90% of the road has been damaged and, therefore, the toll collection at Sarore must be suspended,” former minister in BJP-PDP coalition government, Dr Devender Manyal told Rising Kashmir.
“Gadkari has assured us that people will not be put to any inconvenience and youth arrested will be released,” Manyal said. “The decision regarding suspension of toll collection at Sarore will be taken within 2 to 3 days after getting a complete ground report from the NHAI officers,” Manyal said while quoting the union minister, having assured them in the meeting.
Meanwhile, in the meeting, there were heated arguments between the BJP leaders and the top officers of NHAI.
The NHAI officers were called by Gadkari after patiently hearing the concerns of the BJP leaders.
The NHAI officers informed the minister that already 25% relaxation has already been given in toll collection at the Sarore toll Plaza due to the damaged road.
This led to heated arguments between the J&K BJP leaders and the top officers of NHAI. The BJP leaders from J&K argued in the meeting that the NHAI has been ill-informed about the ground situation as 90% of the road from Kathua to Tranah Bridge near Chadwal has been damaged and therefore the toll collection is illegal and must be suspended till the road is repaired.
