Chaos and confusion prevailed in south Kashmir a day after National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) started levying road tax on Kashmir highway.
On Tuesday NHAI started set up a toll plaza set up at Kachachkot here in south Kashmir’s Pulwamadistrict. As per order of NHAI every vehicle passing through the toll plazawill be charged Rs 85. Therefore, Rs 170 will be charged per day on any vehiclemoving to and fro on the highway.
The authorities also declared that toll tax is notapplicable for people living within the radius of 20 kilometers from the tollplaza. NHAI also issued a list of villages which will receive monthly pass, anexemption of payment of fee.
But people questioned about those falling beyond the limits.”I do not know the logic of this order. What if someone falls beyond 20 Kms.Like I live in Khanabal locality of Anantnag district, 22 kms distance fromtoll plaza how I can pay toll tax,” said a local Bashir Ahmad.
The drivers, commuters, traders, students and employeescastigated the toll tax and termed the order outrageous and injustice withcommon people.
Everyday I pay Rs 150 as fuel charges to and fro from myhome to workshop located in Anantnag. Now I have to pay further 170 as toll taxwhich means more than what I pay for fuel. The charges are not only hefty butbeyond one’s imagination,” said a mechanic Nisar Ahmad of Kharmoud Awantipora.
Another traveler showing a receipt of Rs 85 collected astoll by NHAI told Greater Kashmir that he belongs to Awantipora and was takinghis ailing mother to district hospital Anantnag. “Twice a week I have to takemy diabetic mother to the hospital in Anantnag. Why should I pay 255 as monthlypass and why can’t we get exemption,” asked Mohammad Amin.
He requested NHAI and Jammu and Kashmir government to revokeorder to give common people a respite.
The people from remote areas of Anantnag and Kulgam termedthe order unjust. While as the people from far flung areas like LarnooKokernag, Kapran Dooru, Lowermunda and Pahalgam demanded the exemption fromtoll tax.
“We often have no money to pay bus fare then how can wepay this hefty toll tax,” said an elderly man of Kapran Dooru.
As the toll was made operational people from all walks oflife have protested against it and refused to pay. Both traders as well astransporters on Wednesday held a protest against the imposition of toll tax.
The traders and transporters staged a protest outside theoffice of deputy commissioner Anantnag asking him to exempt the toll tax oncommon people who are already suffering from prolonged conflict and shatteredeconomy.
The protesters under the banner of all traders andmanufacturers association Anantnag, Sumo Stand Union Janglatmandi, Bus andMatador Associations submitted a joint memorandum before DC Anantnag demandingrevocation of the decision to levy toll tax on passengers.
When contacted an official at NHAI told Greater Kashmir thatnew order will be issued soon to clear all the confusions among the people.”We are discussing all the concerns people are expressing and a new order will be issued in a week,” hesaid.