Srinagar: Amid resentment over imposition of toll tax on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday assured that locals would be exempted from paying the tax.
The remarks by the Governor comes following protests by commuters, transporters and traders against the toll tax, besides criticism from all political parties in the state.
“There won’t be any toll tax on the locals at toll plaza near Sangam on the national highway,” Mr Malik told reporters on Thursday after inaugurating the Grade Separator at TRC Junction in Civil Line, Srinagar.
Mr Malik said that the Governor administration has taken up the issue with the centre. However, he said that the process has been slowed up a bit due to ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Since the Toll Plaza was made operational on Tuesday near Sangam on the highway, all sections of society, including politicians, traders, transporters and commuters, demanded that the tax be withdrawn.
Scores of traders and transporters on Wednesday staged a protest outside Deputy Commissioner’s office in Anantnag, demanding an immediate rollback of the decision to levy toll tax near Sangam on the national highway.
The protestors affiliated to All Traders and Manufacturers Association Anantnag and transporters from Sumo Stand Union Janglatmandi, Bus and Matador Associations also submitted a joint memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner Anantnag.
Similar protests were reported at the Toll Plaza on Tuesday, when it was made operational.
