Janhit Morcha frees toll plaza on DND, commuters enjoy free rides
15 April 2015 6:03 AM IST
The protesters, who had earlier warned to force the carriageway open, reached the plaza in numbers, defying the imposition of Section 144 by the district administration. The move of protesters also disrupted traffic on the high speed corridor and its arterial roads. Meanwhile, farmers also blocked the Yamuna Expressway on Tuesday demanding more money as compensation for crops damaged by untimely the rainfall. Despite huge police deployment and imposition of Section 144, nearly 500 members of several local organisations and political parties under the banner of Janhit Morcha reached the plaza around 10 am. The protesters, holding banners, posters and placards, sat at dharna, blocking the plaza. Witnessing long queues of vehicles on both sides of the 7.5 kilometre long carriageway, the local police opened toll barriers for commuters asking toll operators to not collect toll from anyone.
The protesters finished their protest at 2 pm, following which toll collection was started. The Morcha members, led by BJP leader Nawab Singh Naagar, pointed out that the Gurgaon expressway toll, which started after the DND toll, had been discontinued, but the Noida toll continues. “We have given a notice to the district administration asking them to free the carriageway within 15 days. We will intensify our protest if our demands are not accepted,” said Naagar.
Due to the stir, vehicular movement on the carriageway was paralysed for couple of hours. Traffic was gridlocked between Ashram in New Delhi and Mahamaya flyover in Noida. Vehicles inched along the 7.5 km stretch as well as 1.5 km Mayur Vihar link. Within an hour of protest, traffic volume increased on the Kalindi Kunj road and Jhundpura road.
The DND official said that they have been “incurring heavy losses and have not been able to recover the cost” and hence, with due permission from the authorities, continue to levy the tax. “With the opening of toll barriers, the toll company faced an estimated revenue loss of more than Rs six lakh with over 25,000 vehicles passing through during the free hours. Notably, the BJP worker, on April 8, had also freed the toll plaza that had resulted in massive traffic jams around the city.
In another instance, farmers blocked the Yamuna Expressway, demanding more money as compensation for crops damaged by the untimely rainfall. Farmers obstructed the expressway in Maant tehsil of Mathura district. Hundreds of farmers set up roadblocks on the expressway in Naujheel area, protesting for the delay in payment of compensation for damaged crops. The traffic between Agra and Greater Noida remained disrupted for several hours.
The protesters finished their protest at 2 pm, following which toll collection was started. The Morcha members, led by BJP leader Nawab Singh Naagar, pointed out that the Gurgaon expressway toll, which started after the DND toll, had been discontinued, but the Noida toll continues. “We have given a notice to the district administration asking them to free the carriageway within 15 days. We will intensify our protest if our demands are not accepted,” said Naagar.
Due to the stir, vehicular movement on the carriageway was paralysed for couple of hours. Traffic was gridlocked between Ashram in New Delhi and Mahamaya flyover in Noida. Vehicles inched along the 7.5 km stretch as well as 1.5 km Mayur Vihar link. Within an hour of protest, traffic volume increased on the Kalindi Kunj road and Jhundpura road.
The DND official said that they have been “incurring heavy losses and have not been able to recover the cost” and hence, with due permission from the authorities, continue to levy the tax. “With the opening of toll barriers, the toll company faced an estimated revenue loss of more than Rs six lakh with over 25,000 vehicles passing through during the free hours. Notably, the BJP worker, on April 8, had also freed the toll plaza that had resulted in massive traffic jams around the city.
In another instance, farmers blocked the Yamuna Expressway, demanding more money as compensation for crops damaged by the untimely rainfall. Farmers obstructed the expressway in Maant tehsil of Mathura district. Hundreds of farmers set up roadblocks on the expressway in Naujheel area, protesting for the delay in payment of compensation for damaged crops. The traffic between Agra and Greater Noida remained disrupted for several hours.
Next Story
