Mandvi: Local residents and motorists staged a protest against the newly opened toll plaza on the Mandvi–Kim state highway. The controversy began after toll collection started near Zhab village on the highway, which was constructed at an estimated cost of around ₹200 crore.

Locals launched a road blockade agitation from 11 am, resulting in disruption of traffic movement on the route.

The main allegation of the protesters is that the government has started collecting toll from farmers and residents who had earlier given their valuable land for construction of the road. According to locals, this is a matter of injustice, as people who lost their land are now being forced to pay toll to travel on the same road built with public money.

There is also strong resentment among residents over the presence of two toll plazas within a short distance on the same road. Protesters said it is unfair to charge toll repeatedly for a short stretch.

Locals also expressed anger over the absence of administrative officials at the protest site. Despite the agitation continuing for several hours, no responsible officer reached the spot, following which angry residents described the toll plaza as “orphaned” due to the absence of authorities.

Villagers and motorists said the agitation will continue until locals are given toll exemption and relief from repeated charges on the same route.

Repeated toll within 3 km not affordable: Truck Association

Truck Association President Nilesh Gandhi strongly opposed the toll collection and said it is unfair to repeatedly collect toll from small commercial vehicles operating over short distances at the local level.

He said paying toll repeatedly for a distance of just three kilometres is not affordable and warned that the agitation will be intensified in the coming days if the decision is not withdrawn.

Local residents, including Ratan Shah of Areth village, demanded that vehicles of nearby villagers, which pass multiple times a day, should be given permanent toll exemption.

Company assures temporary toll exemption

After nearly five-and-a-half hours of protest, Ashapura Transport Company, which operates the toll plaza, issued a written assurance granting temporary toll exemption to local residents until the issue is resolved.

At present, toll operations have been halted and no staff are seen at the toll plaza. However, no administrative official has yet taken responsibility for resolving the dispute.

Those who have been granted exemption are relieved for now, said Mitalbhai Chaudhary, Sarpanch of Vadeshiya village. DeshGujarat