Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Apr 22: Public transport may get some relaxation in user charges at Toll Plaza near Ban Talab on Jammu-Udhampur National Highway as the Union Ministry of Surface Transport is learnt to have agreed for considering a formal request in this regard by the State Government as a special case.
The Union Minister has conveyed its response during a high level meeting with the National Highway Authority of India over the issue after the State Government expressed reservations of transporters against collecting of user charges at the newly established Toll Plaza, highly placed official sources informed the Excelsior.
Consequent upon the positive response, the State Government is now going to prepare a formal proposal for submission of the same to the Union Surface Transport Ministry very soon after discussing different plans offered in this regard, sources added.
Pertinent to mention that the widened Jammu-Udhampur National Highway, which is part of Jammu-Srinagar four –lanning project of the National Highway Authority of India, has been prepared on Build Operation Transfer (BOT) basis, under which a private entity receives a franchise from the private or public sector organization to finance, design, construct, and operate a facility for a specified period of time, after which the ownership is transferred back to the funding entity. During the time that the project contractor operates the facility, it is allowed to charge facility users appropriate fees as stated in their contract, to enable the project contractor to recover its investment, together with the operating and maintenance costs.
Therefore, after the completion of Jammu-Udhampur stretch of four-laned National Highway with the throwing open of four tunnels at Nandni in January this year, the NHAI operationalized Toll Plaza at Ban Talab and started collecting user charges from all kinds of vehicles despite opposition of the same by transporters and some political organizations. These transporters were opposing the user charges because the Toll Plaza has been set up for Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which has not been completed so far. Further, the people travelling to Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Patnitop etc were also being charged at Ban Talab.
Taking cognizance of transporters concern, the Minister for Roads and Buildings, Altaf Bukhari took up the matter with NHAI authorities and sought relaxation on levying of user charges. NHAI further took up the issue with the Union Ministry of Surface Transport, which agreed to consider reduction in user rate charges for passenger buses and mini-buses as a special case. However, no such relaxation will be given to Trucks and Load Careers as well the private vehicles plying on the National Highway, sources explained.
The Department of Roads and Buildings has received different plans on user rate charges, which are being studied for preparing a formal proposal and submission of the same to Union Ministry of Surface Transport for toll relaxation, sources further informed and added that a high-level meeting in this regard is likely to be convened in next two-three days.
Relaxation in user rate charges is likely to convince the transports, who are up in arms over the collection of toll plaza, said a senior officer of the State Government.
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