Excelsior Correspondent
NAGROTA, Mar 28: Seeking immediate roll back of the toll tax by the National Highway Authority of India in the Jammu and Kashmir, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana today said the decision depicts lack of comprehension and imagination, as the highway is still in the construction stage.
“The decision is highly arbitrary and those bent upon to implement it are showing scant regard for public sensitivity, as the toll tax will not only impact the commuters, both using public and private transport, but manifest in price rise of essentials due to enhancement in freight of consumer goods”, Mr Rana said while addressing a public meeting at Padyari village of Korgan Panchayat in the Nagrota Assembly Constituency.
The Provincial President said the toll tax will take toll of various economic activities, as it will prove additional burden for over ten million pilgrims thronging to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and lakhs of pilgrims and tourists embarking for the Kashmir Valley annually. “What an irony, schemes and incentives are being devised to promote tourism across the country but in this part, no such initiative is even being considered”, he said and hoped that the State Government will forcefully take up this issue with the Ministry of Surface Transport as also the designated authority.
Mr Rana made a particular reference of the Nagrota, saying the inhabitants of this constituency are required to visit Jammu quite frequently in pursuit of jobs, education of children and even the errands. “Instead of treating it as a periphery of the Greater Jammu, tax is being imposed for day to day mobility”, he said adding that the people reserve right to protest against this arbitrary decision. He said the proposal will not only fleece the Vaishno Devi-bound pilgrims and tourists going to Kashmir , who will have to pay additionally, those travelling between various areas from Lakhanpur to Udhampur, may also have to bear the brunt,” he said,
“Should we consider the move as the begining of ‘Ache Din’ promised by the BJP and ‘healing touch’ trumpeted by the PDP”, Mr Rana said while taking a jibe at the coalition for working against the interests of common people. He pooh-poohed the tall claims of the BJP-PDP combination while selling dreams to the people and said the toll plazas will prove to be a big obstacle in the hassle-free movement of the people in Jammu and Kashmir, essentially a tourist state.
The Provincial President also dwelt on the local problems confronted to the constituency and said he will strive for ensuring the facilities and upgradation of various services for better living of the people. He said he was seized of the problems confronting to the Constituency and would seek their redressal on immediate basis.
Follow our WhatsApp channel