Delhi: ‘Unfair burden on farmers, locals’ Mahapanchayat against UER-II toll tax on Sept 13

“Either remove the toll or make some exemption for villagers living in a 20-km radius, like National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) does for local residents everywhere,” said Surendra Solanki, head of Palam 360.

NHAI sources, however, said that there is already an exemption for local residents. For a single-side journey, cars are being charged a toll of Rs 235, while a return trip within 24 hours costs Rs 350. They said people living within a 20-km radius are even eligible for a monthly pass at Rs 350 for private vehicles, on submission of Aadhaar card and vehicle registration documents.

The sources added that the NHAI also introduced a monthly pass for frequent users. Priced at Rs 7,765, this pass allows 50 trips a month that otherwise would cost them Rs 11,750.

“This fight is not just against the toll tax, but also for the rights of the common people. The voice of 360 villages cannot be suppressed. We will ensure that people’s grievances are conveyed strongly to the government,” he added. Solanki said the group had also met East Delhi MP and Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Harsh Malhotra, earlier this week, who had assured that a solution would be found soon.

UER-II was inaugurated in August by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when the 66-km stretch from Alipur to Dichaon Kalan of the UER-II was opened to the public, along with new stretches connecting Bahadurgarh and Sonipat. Envisioned as the city’s third Ring Road, the UER-II is expected to divert traffic from Inner and Outer Ring Roads and reduce pressure on congested points such as Mukarba Chowk, Dhaula Kuan and National Highway-9. It provides direct connectivity to Outer Delhi areas, such as Narela, Bawana, Mundka and Najafgarh.

Speakers at the panchayat said that the toll tax was “forcibly imposed” and urged the government to withdraw it immediately. “The government must listen to the voice of the rural population. If our demands are ignored, the agitation will intensify,” one of the speakers said.
Dharmendra Sehrawat (52), a resident of Bakkarwala, claimed that the land for UER-II was acquired from them way back in 2003 at throwaway prices. “The farms of my village are on the other side of the toll (plaza). So will we pay a toll tax to go to our farms every day?” says Sehrawat.