Jammu, Sep 01: Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, on Friday assured the people and the agitating members of All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association (AJKTWA) that the issue of Toll collection at Sarore Toll Plaza would be resolved within days.
The Divisional Commissioner also held a meeting with the leaders of All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association (AJKTWA), who had called for ‘Chakka Jam’ on Friday in protest against toll collection at Sarore Toll Plaza despite the large portion of Jammu-Pathankot Highway being damaged.
The officers of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) were also present at the meeting. “The damaged Tarnah Bridge at Chadwal in Kathua will be repaired and a causeway will be put in place for traffic within 4-5 days,” Kumar said.
As far as Sarore Toll Plaza is concerned, he said, “The government is proactively following the matter and the NHAI team has also visited here and we are hopeful that a positive decision will soon be taken.”
Meanwhile, there was a good response to the ‘Chakka Jam’ call given by All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association (AJKTWA) in Jammu against toll collection at Sarore Toll Plaza.
It was seen that roads wore a deserted look as public and private transport vehicles were off the roads till late afternoon in view of the ‘Chakka Jam’ call.
Lack of transport facilities also affected attendance in educational institutions, which were opened but the attendance was far less than usual.
However, shops and business establishments remained open. Hundreds of Transport Union members, led by AJKTWA Chairman Ajit Singh, assembled at Bhagwati Nagar and held protest demonstrations against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) over the bad condition of the highway. They demanded the suspension of the Sarore toll plaza.
Raising slogans against the NHAI, they took out a protest rally at the Sarore Toll Plaza. Raising slogans like, “No Road, No Toll, Transport Union Zindabad”, the protesters said they would continue to agitate till toll collection is suspended.
