THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, March 14: Palamu BJP MP Vishnu Dayal Ram has written to NHAI chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav seeking “appropriate relief” for commuters paying toll at the Jorkat toll plaza on NH-39, citing incomplete road work and pending infrastructure projects.
Locals protest toll collection on incomplete highway
In his two-page letter dated March 13, the MP highlighted growing concern and dissatisfaction among local residents over the toll collection that began on March 7. The toll plaza falls on the Bhogu–Sankha stretch of NH-39, part of the Ranchi–Varanasi corridor under the Bharatmala Project.
According to the MP, toll collection has started even though key components of the highway project are incomplete. Locals have termed the toll extraction arbitrary and unjustified.
4-km stretch stuck due to forest clearance
Ram pointed out that nearly 4 km of the highway remains incomplete due to the absence of a no-objection certificate from the concerned forest division.
The stretch involves different categories of land, including notified forest land, gair majrua land and jungle jhari land. Construction work cannot proceed until the required forest clearance is granted.
Two proposed flyovers yet to start
The MP also raised the issue of two proposed flyovers — one at Pokhraha and another at Jorkat — which have not yet commenced.
Additionally, the connecting road from Medininagar to NH-39 has not been initiated so far. In such circumstances, the MP argued, the collection of toll tax does not have any locus standi.
Villages affected by toll tax
The toll collection has affected residents of several villages, including Dubiya Kharn, Jorkat, Chiyanki, Pokhraha, Jore, Singra Kala, Lohra, Pandwa and Rajhara.
With the issue now formally raised, all eyes are on the NHAI chairman to see what decision is taken regarding relief for commuters.