Proposal to set up toll at Murthal opposed

Will be a burden on motorists: MLA

De11 Jai Tirath Dahiya

Opposing the proposal to set up a toll plaza at Murthal on Delhi-Chandigarh road, Jai Tirath Dahiya, the Congress MLA from Rai, said on Tuesday that it would prove to be an additional burden on the residents of Sonipat and thousands of motorists travelling on the road.

Asserting that there was absolutely no need for another toll on the road, Mr. Dahiya said it had been almost nine years since Murthal flyover was constructed and there were already two toll plazas at Panipat and Gharaunda in Karnal.

‘Tolls at short distances’

“The Panipat toll is just 30 km from the proposed toll at Murthal. The Gharaunda toll is another 20 km away from Panipat. It makes no sense to have tolls at such short distances,” he said.

He added that there was no need to burden the common man with more taxes after the government had already imposed the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Mr. Dahiya said the BJP government talked about the “one nation, one tax” principle on the one hand and imposed a variety of taxes on the other.

He questioned the need for imposing toll tax when a motorist was made to pay GST on purchase of vehicle and several other taxes for seeking registration later.

According to a senior National Highways Authority of India official, the proposed toll at Murthal was being set up as part of the six-laning project and would become operational on October 21.

“The toll is part of the six-laning of the road from Delhi to Panipat. It was to be set up earlier but got delayed. The toll rate would be increased after 12-laning of the stretch is completed,” the official added.