19-08-2023 : In a statement to the Media, Sh Rakesh Gupta Ex-President Chamber of Commerce & Industry(Regd) Jammu expressed his displeasure on the illegal operation of Toll Plaza at Sarore in District Samba and the utter confusion created because of NHAI’s unacceptable lawless attitude.
I would like to remind Sh. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India of his own statement made on the floor of the house in Lok Sabha in March, 2022 in which he said & accepted that any toll plazas within 60 KM of another toll Plaza were operating illegally and shall be shut down within three months. I regret to say that the statement and the promise made by the Worthy Minister has not at all been implemented as far as the Toll Plaza at Sarore is concerned being only 43 KM from Bann Toll Plaza on NH 44 even after a lapse of almost 17 Months till date. This toll being collected illegally amounts to extortion. I demand and urge upon the District Magistrate Samba that NHAI be booked for this “Zabardasti Wasuli” and a FIR be lodged against them.
I appeal to Sh. Nitin Gadkari to immediately pass on written instructions to order permanent closure of the toll plaza at Sarore keeping in view the laws as stated by himself in Lok Sabha & the proven loyalty of the people of Jammu towards our Nation. It’s the moment for the Worthy Minister to prove his sincerity while making the above-mentioned statement otherwise one and all shall understand that it was purely a political gimmick.
Statement made in March 2022 in Lok Sabha:
https://fb.watch/krddErqBpc/?mibextid=Nif5oz
I would also appeal to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of J&K UT kindly to take suo moto cognizance of the same in Public Interest and issue necessary directions to the NHAI to permanently remove this illegally operating said toll plaza at Sarore with immediate effect.