Locals protest, submit memorandum to SDM seeking relief from toll at Bharthana Toll Plaza

Karjan: Residents of Karjan held a protest rally on Thursday against the continued toll collection at the Karjan-Bharthana Toll Plaza. Locals marched on foot from the toll plaza to the Prant Office in Karjan, where they submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Prant Officer demanding exemption from toll charges.

The protesters have issued a seven-day ultimatum for authorities to address their demands. They argue that the toll plaza was established in 2008–09 for the six-laning of the highway, and the agreement period between L&T and the Government has since expired, yet toll collection continues.

Key demands raised by the protesters include toll exemption for vehicles registered in Vadodara district (GJ-06) and a reduction in toll rates, which they claim remain unchanged despite the expiry of the concession agreement. The protesters also sought a dedicated service road for local traffic.

The agitation comes just days after the implementation of an annual nationwide toll hike on April 1 at the Bharthana Toll Plaza—reportedly the highest-revenue-generating toll plaza in India, with collections amounting to ₹472.65 crore in 2023–24. DeshGujarat