Ludhiana: After over 46 days of blockade by farmers at Punjab’s most expensive toll plaza Ladowal against the increased toll fee, the plaza will become operational from today. From June 16, Ladowal toll plaza has been made completely free by the Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Union and Bharatiya Kisan Doaba. The farmers were led by Pradhan Dilbagh Singh Gill and Inderbir Singh Kadian. The farmer groups have been protesting against the increased toll fees and demanding the restoration of old prices.
Police force in large numbers were deployed at the toll plaza this morning to control any unforeseen conditions. It is expected that farmers in large number will be reaching the toll plaza as per the call of farm leader Dilbagh Singh.
People have saved more than Rs 46 crore due to the toll being closed for the last 46 days. Farmers demand that the toll rates be reduced. Toll rates of Ladowal toll plaza have increased thrice in a year. Due to blockade by farmers, NHAI had filed a case in the High Court. In this case, the High Court has ordered the Punjab government to re-start the toll.
On the other hand, farmers have been against the High court’s orders. Giving information, Pradhan Dilbagh Singh Gill said that he has received information that the district administration is going to open the Ladowal toll plaza by forcefully working at 8 am on Wednesday. For this reason, he appealed to a large number of farmers and the general public to reach the toll plaza and support them. Dilbagh Singh said that the High Court has given a decision against the farmers. He alleged that the court did not even hear their side.
Dilbagh told that the farmers had filed an application in the High Court to become a party, but the High Court said that they cannot become a party in this case. They can file a new writ separately. The High Court said that NHAI should start toll. The Punjab government has taken 4 weeks time from the court.