Transport Associations boycott toll tax on Vadodara-Halol, Adalaj-Mehsana Highways

Vadodara: Various transport associations in Gujarat launched protests today by boycotting the toll tax on the Mehsana-Ahmedabad Highway and the Vadodara-Halol Highway. Truck and bus drivers have expressed their anger over the collection of toll tax, which exceeds the cost incurred for constructing the roads. As a result, transport association members have decided to avoid the toll plazas and use alternative routes. Pamphlets were distributed to raise awareness among vehicle drivers regarding this decision.

The Akhil Gujarat Truck Transport Association, Baroda Road Transport Association, and All India Motor Transport Congress have announced a boycott of the Vadodara-Halol and Adalaj-Mehsana toll roads. They protested at the Halol-Vadodara Toll Plaza near Golden Chowkdi and threatened to escalate their protests if the toll collection is not reversed.

One of the protesters on the Vadodara highway told the media, “Today, we are starting the boycott, but if no response is received from the government, we will go on strike. What we are saying is that these roads were constructed at a cost of Rs. 514 crores, but Rs. 2900 crores have been collected as tax so far. Yet the contractors are demanding a 10-year extension for toll collection, claiming they have suffered a loss. We have boycotted the toll, and if no result comes out, we will take further action.”

The Travels Association, along with some truck owners and heads of other associations, has joined the protest. Currently, protesters are standing near the toll plaza at Halol, chanting slogans and distributing pamphlets to trucks going from Golden Chowkdi to Halol, urging them not to pay the toll and to use alternative routes. The police were also present to manage traffic and maintain law and order, while some truck drivers are voluntarily returning their trucks and boycotting the toll. Additionally, some truck drivers sat on the road and shouted slogans, causing a traffic jam near Golden Chowkdi. However, the police intervened and cleared the vehicles to restore normal traffic flow.

Transporters also protested against the toll at the Mewad toll plaza on the Mehsana-Ahmedabad highway. They have decided to use alternative routes instead of passing through the toll roads. Transporters are frustrated, as the toll continues to be collected even after the amount charged exceeds the original cost of the roads.

According to the Baroda Road Transport Association, transporters have been demanding that the 31.7 km Vadodara-Halol toll road, built in 2001, and the 51.3 km Adalaj-Mehsana road, built in 2003, should not collect more toll fees. A total of Rs. 514.89 crore was spent on these two roads, but the private company has already collected Rs. 2928 crore in tolls. The company has now sought permission from the government to continue collecting tolls for another 10 years, until 2040, claiming that it incurred losses.

Meanwhile, at the same time, the company allegedly made a net profit of Rs. 1950 crore and paid around Rs. 652 crore in dividends.

In another RTI filed by the Transport Association, the government disclosed that it had collected Rs. 4025 crore in road tax last year. The transporters also claim that the toll charges on these two roads are higher than those levied by the National Highway Authority.

Regarding this, Hasubhai Bhagdev, secretary of the Akhil Gujarat Truck Transport Association, stated that there are currently protests at two toll plazas: Vadodara-Halol and Mehsana-Adalaj. At both of these toll plazas, the toll collected is higher than the originally agreed amount. Despite this, the company has been given an extension, citing losses. If the government does not take action, the transporters will launch a fierce agitation. Not only Gujarat but truck transportation from all over the country is affected, which is why the All India Motor Transport Congress in New Delhi has joined the protest. They have warned that if the government continues in this manner, the public will suffer. DeshGujarat