The installation of a new toll plaza by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at Dhamed gram panchayat has sparked widespread discontent among residents of Kangra Assembly constituency.
On Sunday (August 25, 2024), a delegation comprising heads of various youth clubs from the constituency met BJP leader and social worker Rajesh Pariyal Chaudhary to express their concerns about the imminent start of the toll plaza’s operations.
The delegation highlighted that the toll plaza’s location would impose a significant financial burden on local residents. Pilgrims visiting prominent religious sites such as Nag Mandir at Darkata, and Jwalaji and Baglamukhi temples would now have to pay an additional toll fee of approximately Rs 150. It will also hit those travelling for medical treatment to institutions like PGI-Chandigarh, AIIMS-Bilaspur, Science City-Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur, draining the local community financially.
The delegation noted that the toll plaza’s impact would be particularly severe during the annual fairs at Nag Mandir, where 50 to 60 vehicles from the constituency are expected to travel daily.
From next year, these vehicles will incur additional toll costs, which will also affect local taxi drivers and transporters bringing produce to the vegetable market. The increase in transport costs is likely to drive up inflation, adding to the financial woes of the constituency’s residents.
Responding to the delegation’s concerns, Chaudhary criticised the decision to install the toll plaza. He pointed out that the local public representative failed to oppose the toll plaza at crucial moment, both in the Assembly constituency and before the NHAI.
Chaudhary expressed disappointment that despite the BJP being in power at the Centre, the local representative did not take up the matter with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in time, only doing so when the toll plaza was already established.
