Activists Of Farmers' Outfit Close Gates Of All Cabins At Toll Plaza In Punjab

The protest at the site had started under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Union on June 16 and had also got support from some taxi unions and other farmers' organisations.

The farmers had been protesting and sitting on a dharna at the Ladhowal toll barrier here on the banks of the Satluj river on the national highway.

Dilbag Singh, president of the union said, "Today, we have closed the gates of all the cabins of the toll plaza by tying a piece of cloth there as a seal."

After the start of the dharna about two weeks ago, all vehicles were passing through the toll plaza without paying any fee, he said, adding they will continue to do so even now.

Addressing a gathering on Sunday, Singh claimed commuters need to pay Rs 220 for a single journey and Rs 330 for multiple journeys in a four-wheeler, putting a financial burden on common commuters.

The protesters had demanded that the toll rates be reduced to Rs 150 for multiple journeys for cars, jeeps, or vans for a 24-hour period.

Singh said they had warned earlier that if the authorities failed to issue orders to reduce the toll rates by Saturday evening, the union would permanently lock the toll barriers.

He said after presenting another memorandum on Sunday to the district administration, they lifted their dharna from the site after locking the barriers. Singh claimed it is the costliest toll plaza in Punjab, and said, "For the third time during the last 12 months, the toll fee had been increased. Such frequent hikes in rates have put a burden on the pockets of the commuters".