Toll plazas re-activated at Behram, Kathgarh

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 20

Travelling from Jalandhar/ Phagwara to Chandigarh has become costlier once again as two toll barriers have got re-activated enroute to Behram (near Banga) and Kathgarh (near Balachaur).

Since the toll barriers have come up at a time when the NHAI’s four-laning project is still incomplete, commuters are unhappy with the decision to levy toll much earlier. The flyover at Banga is still not ready and some of the pillars are still to be erected owing to which the commuters have to travel underneath it, through congested and broken service lanes to reach their destination. The Nawanshahr bypass too has not opened yet.

The Phagwara-Ropar stretch was earlier a part of the state highway, but it got notified as 344 A National Highway, with the Centre currently investing Rs 1,500 crore on it. The toll barricades previously installed by the state government were removed about four years ago. Interestingly, as the toll plazas got re-activated yesterday, no provision has been made for exempted vehicles, including two-wheelers which have to pass through the same lanes as that for cars. Even the use of FASTags has not been made smooth and quick, which has been causing a lot of congestion at the toll plazas.

For travelling between Phagwara and Nawanshahr through Behram toll plaza, a car or a jeep owner now has to now pay Rs 50 for a single trip and Rs 75 for a two-way trip. A light commercial/ goods vehicle/mini bus has to pay up Rs 80 for single and Rs 115 for a double trip. A bus/truck has to pay Rs 165 for a single and Rs 245 for a double trip.

For passing between Nawanshahr and Ropar through Kathgarh toll plaza, a car or a jeep owner now has to pay Rs 55 for a single trip and Rs 80 for a two-way trip. A light commercial/goods vehicle/mini bus has to pay up Rs 85 for single and Rs 130 for a double trip. A bus/truck has to pay Rs 180 for a single and Rs 270 for a double trip.

Owing to a higher cost being borne by the buses, the bus fare too has been enhanced since yesterday by Rs 5 for any commuter plying between Phagwara to Nawanshahr or Chandigarh to Nawanshahr.