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| Open loot the name of tax collection along Jammu-Kishtwar NH | | Charging of Rs 135 toll tax at Ban toll plaza for unfinished road is cruelty: Public | |  Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 20: As the controversy regarding establishment of Toll Plaza at Sarore in Samba District on Kathua-Jammu National Highway is yet to die down, the transporters who operate their commercial vehicles along with general public and daily commuters term the imposition of various taxes on 220 KM long Kishtwar-Jammu National Highway-that too for incomplete road stretch from Nashri-Tunnel to Udhampur as cruelty.
Speaking to "Early Times" the transporters whose commercial vehicles normally operate on this route said that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways increased the toll tax at Ban toll Palaza from 1-4-2019 and fix Rs. 135 for Cars, Jeeps, while LCV, LJV, minibus had to pay Rs. 215, Bus or Truck Rs. 450, Three Axie commercial vehicle Rs. 490, HCM, EME, MAV (4-6 Axie) Rs. 705 and oversized vehicles with 7 or more Axies had to pay Rs. 860 for single side journey during the year 2019-20 for 52 KM road stretch from 15 KM Jammu bypass to 67 KM Udhampur which is Rs. 2.50 per Kilometer in case of light motor vehicles which is considered as very high.
The transporters also rued the charging of Rs. 30 each at Batote Junction of Municipal Committee , Pul Doda of Municipal Committee Doda, Thatri Municipal Committee and Kishtwar Municipal Committee added that all these Municipal Committees along along Kishtwar-Jammu Mational Highway are collecting the toll tax in violation of the rules and regulations and said that this Jazia tax is being collected only from the commercial vehicles. They said that they have approach several quarters including former CMs, Transport Commissioners, Secretaries and Director Local Bodies for bringing an end to this illegal practice added that despite all their efforts they fail in their efforts and called upon the incumbent government to put an end to this practice.
"Transporter is worst affected due to increase in prices of petroleum products - Diesel has almost touched Rs. 70 per liter and additional burden of heavy toll taxes and illegal practice of tax collection by the four different Municipal committees is killing them every day" said a transporter added that it is very difficult for them to meet out daily expenses and to run family affairs which also include the studies of their children's.
Another transporter said that the increase in toll taxes, installation of new toll plaza,s, increase in oil prices is not only effecting them, but also make direct impact on the poor people traveling in commercial transport vehicles.
Another person who had his private vehicle told the "Early Times" that charging an amount of Rs. 135 at Ban Toll palaza is very huge amount - that too for incomplete road stretch is a cruel joke on part of the National Highway Authority of India-however he said that an amount of Rs. 65 charged to him at Chenani_ Nashri tunnel is justified added that it also need to bring down by at least half.
The transporters and the general public calls for unity among the various transport organizations as well as among the people so that government could be convinced to revisit the policy of establishment of new toll palazas like in case at Saroor on Jammu-Kathua National Highway beside to bring an end to open loot culture of various Municipal committees on both the National Highways in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The locals told the "Early Times" that due to huge lines and traffic rush, they faces lot of inconvenience and delay due to traffic jams added that they too are being charged and called upon the authorities to prepare a comprehensive plan to avid inconvenience to the local population as well as to those travelling on Kishtwar-Jammu and Jammu-Srinagar National Highways by installing advance technology for smooth facilitation of traffic movement during rush hours. |
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