Bhupinder Singh Hooda seeks policy to ease high toll rates

CHANDIGARH: Following increasing resentment against the "excessive" toll charges, Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday asked officers to frame a policy to provide relief to people. He also directed officers to discontinue charging increased rates at toll plaza till the time policy is framed for giving relaxation in toll rates.
The move comes days after Toll Sangharsh Samiti, a body of Rohtak residents, threatened to block national and state highways in Haryana demanding immediate withdrawal of toll plazas across the state.The representatives of people living in nearby areas of toll plaza had met Hooda recently and apprised him of the exorbitant rates. Hooda held a meeting on Thursday with officers of public works (building and roads) department and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). After the meeting, Hooda admitted that at present, the rates at toll plazas in the state are high and it needs to be reduced.
The chief minister said the state government is ready to bear the loss incurred due to the decision and accordingly compensate NHAI.