Bharuch: The government of India had given exemption to Bharuch passing vehicles from toll tax on cable stayed bridge over river Narmada four months ago. Soon after the election, this exemption has been lifted and toll tax is again being levied from GJ-16(Bharuch district) passing vehicles.

A cable stayed bridge was constructed on national highway number 8 at around Rs 400 crore cost through EPC model(fully government funded project). After its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a private firm appointed by Central government had started toll collection from all vehicles on September 21 against which locals had staged protest. Due to approaching elections, the Centre had announced exemption for GJ-16 passing vehicles. Now after the election, the toll collection agency Eagle has again started collecting toll tax from all vehicles including that of GJ-16 passing ones.

It is learnt that in view of approaching assembly election, the government had decided to give exemption to Bharuch passing vehicles and do payment from government treasury on behalf of them. However that concession letter has been withdrawn post election and therefore the toll tax collection agency has started levying toll tax again from Bharuch passing vehicles.

Meanwhile due to toll tax collection on this bridge which has been fully government funded, the problem of traffic has been same as it was in the past.

DeshGujarat