Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 3: In yet another indication of the sensitivity in governance under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on the intervention of Union Minister in PMO with independent Charge of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh has agreed to grant relaxation in Toll Tax being charged by NHAI at Lakhanpur Toll Plaza in Kathua district and Thandi Khoi in Samba district on Jammu -Pathankot National Highway.
The decision will give a great relief to the commuters on Jammu -Pathankot route. Dr Jitendra Singh, who took up the issue with the NHAI authorities said that the same was done in view of the pressing public demand for the commuters who are constrained to travel by alternative route due to damaged Tarnah Nallah bridge last month causing disruption to traffic on National Highway 44.
Dr Jitendra Singh told Excelsior that the NHAI authorities have agreed to bring about suitable curtailments in Toll Tax at these two locations to give relief to commuters.
Terming it an indicator to sensitivity to the governance under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh took a dig at those parties who are politicking even on the natural calamites’ instead of coming forward to ease the problems of the people.
The Union Minister, who also represents the Kathua-Udhampur Doda Lok Sabha constituency, took up the issue with the NHAI as he was very much concerned about the problems being faced by the commuters after the diversion of traffic on NH44 due to caving in of Tarnah Nallah bridge.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the relaxation in the Toll Tax will continue at both these places to the commuters till the Expressway Corridor is under construction.
Dr Jitendra Singh earlier convened joint meeting of Divisional Commissioner Jammu, authorities of NHAI and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) last week for construction of a Platoon bridge on river Tarnah adjoining the damaged bridge for smooth plying of traffic on NH 44. But the same could not materialise as BRO objected that such alternative can’t work on this nallah owing to fast current of water in the nallah during floods due to which the platoon bridge could be washed away.
He said though the work on main bridge can’t be undertaken unless the rainy season is over, the construction of the causeway also gets hampered due to rainy and flashfloods in the nallah. The NHAI is still on job and they have mobilized men and machinery with an effort to construct the causeway as early as possible, he added.
The Jammu-Kathua Bus Union has earlier demanded that the Toll tax at Lakhanpur and Thandi Khoi be abolished till the Expressway Corridor is constructed keeping in view the loss suffered by transporters after the diversion of traffic on NH44.
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