THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, March 8: Within hours of the Jorkat toll plaza on NH-39 (old NH-75) in Palamu becoming operational on Saturday morning, local residents staged a protest demanding toll tax exemption for private vehicles.
The situation briefly turned tense as locals gathered at the toll gate, leading to confusion and disruption. A Sadar police team led by officer-in-charge Lalji reached the spot and managed to bring the situation under control.
Residents demanded that private cars and vans belonging to locals be exempted from toll tax. The toll collection agency appointed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) initially struggled to pacify the protesters before police intervention restored order.
List of local vehicle owners to be submitted
After discussions, it was agreed that mukhiyas of adjoining panchayats will submit a list of local vehicle owners along with copies of Aadhaar cards to the toll plaza agency.
The lists must be submitted by March 12 for consideration of toll exemption.
Officials also pointed out that several municipal corporation wards fall within the vicinity of the Jorkat toll plaza, and residents of these areas may also submit similar documents through their local representatives.
NHAI says toll agency responsible
NHAI Project Director Sudhir Kumar in Daltonganj said the authority has no direct role in the dispute.
“We have no say in this matter. The toll plaza agency will deal with the issue,” he said.
He added that residents living within a 20-km radius of the toll plaza can avail a monthly pass of ₹340 for private cars, irrespective of the number of crossings.
Another option available is a ₹3,000 annual FASTag pass for non-commercial vehicles, which allows users to cross toll plazas across India at a concessional rate of ₹15 per crossing.
Toll currently collected on 31-km stretch
Officials said toll is presently being collected on a 31-km operational stretch, while the entire four-lane highway project on NH-39 is over 49 km long.
Construction on more than 3 km of the highway in Palamu remains stalled due to pending forest clearance, as the forest division has not yet issued the required No-Objection Certificate (NoC).
Mela site issue raised by locals
Local residents also raised concerns that the alignment of NH-39 has fragmented the Adivasi Vikas Maha Kumbh Mela site at Dubiya Kharn.
They demanded construction of piers to maintain connectivity across the fairground, though officials say the proposal may not be cost-effective. Locals have also opposed the proposed box-type pedestrian crossing facility.
Several vehicles exempt from toll tax
Certain categories of vehicles are already exempt from toll tax, including:
- Cycles and motorcycles
- Bullock carts and horse-drawn carts
- Tractors
- Ambulances and funeral vans
- Police and defence vehicles
- Vehicles of High Court and Supreme Court judges
- Auto-rickshaws and battery-operated rickshaws
20 toll plazas in Jharkhand
Jharkhand currently has 20 toll plazas, of which four are located in the Palamu division.
Toll collection for the Bhogu to Sankha stretch (148 km to 197 km) was authorised through an extraordinary gazette notification dated December 10, 2025.
Officer-in-charge Lalji said elected representatives should play a constructive role in resolving the issue instead of pursuing petty interests.
