Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: Strongly condemning the Union Government for installing additional Toll Plaza on the National Highway at Lakhanpur, Traders Federation, Ware House, Nehru Market, Jammu today appealed the Government not to make Jammu a city of Toll Plazas.
Deepak Gupta, general secretary, Traders Federation, Nehru Market, said that the people of Jammu were wary of even the existing Toll Plazas at Ban and Sarore which are taxing them heavily. There were several protests against the Ban Toll Plaza and Sarore Toll Plaza in Jammu and elsewhere seeking the disbanding of the said Plazas whose rates are amongst the highest in the country.
“The people were seeking disbanding these Toll Plazas with BJP leadership cheating them by false assurances. It was however disturbing to note that rather than shutting down Ban Toll and Sarore Toll Plaza, the Central Government established one more Toll Plaza at Lakhnpur,” Gupta said while addressing a meeting of different trade associations at Ware House, Jammu today. The meeting was held under the presidentship of Rattan Lal Mahajan, president of Traders Federation, Ware House, Jammu.
Gupta cautioned to launch an agitation in case the decision of Lakhanpur Toll Plaza is not revoked at the earliest. He said that the situation in J&K is already very sensitive and the Government move of imposing such ‘Jazia’ would have the effect of adding fuel to fire.
He pointed out that public is being forced to pay three types of taxes for use of road which is very strange and shocking. He said when one person purchases a vehicle, he is made to pay 15 years advance road tax to Government, then cess on petrol/diesel per litre for using roads and then Toll tax for using roads/highways, which is most unfair, unjustified and unacceptable.
This is mere exploitation of public by the ruling Government, he said and termed the policy of NHAI as totally faulty which amounts to open `loot’ on the pockets of common man.
Gupta said that with these taxes, rates of essential commodities will further go high. “Jammu Kashmir is a consuming UT and almost every essential commodity comes from neighbouring states. When transporters have to pay such heavy taxes, the transport expenses will rise and ultimately prices of essential commodities will go high,” he added.
Describing the Government’s move as fatal for the tourism industry, Gupta said that the economy of J&K is completely dependent on religious tourism and these taxes will also affect the pocket of these tourists. He said that every year, around one crore devotees comes to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Yatra and now they have to pay toll tax at three places on the there routes from Lakhanpur to Katra.
“In such a situation, everyone will think several times before coming here. This will affect the tourism industry. The Government must understand the pulse of the people as it has become one of the main concerns for the Jammuites. It is not going to be tolerated anymore,” he added.
Dheeraj Gupta, senior vice president, Munish Mahajan, vice president, Abhimanyu Gupta, secretary, Vishal Gupta, cashier of the Federation and Yashpal Gupta, president, Retailers’ Association were present in the meeting.
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