DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Punjab Public Works and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO announced today that two toll plazas on the state highway Patiala-Nabha-Malerkotla have been closed on August 5, effective immediately.

Revealing this in a press communique issued here. The PWD Minister said that the collection of road user fee at toll plazas, located at Mohrana and Kalyan on Patiala-Nabha-Malerkotla were closed late last night. He said that the total collection from these two toll plazas was Rs. 87 lakh per month.

The minister said that this move is part of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government's efforts to provide direct financial relief to the people of Punjab amidst rising inflation. He said that the closure of these two toll plazas brings the total number of closed toll plazas across the state to 18, resulting in a daily saving of Rs. 61.67 lakh for commuters.

Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO stated that stopping of toll collection is a significant step towards economic relief for the people of Punjab, easing the financial burden on citizens and ensuring smooth and hassle-free traffic movement on these roads. "Since coming to power nearly two years ago, the Mann government has eliminated tolls on a total of 590 km of state highways", he added.

The minister highlighted the daily relief provided by the removal of tolls on the state highways, including the Patiala-Samana road, Ludhiana-Malerkotla-Sangrur road, Balachaur-Garshankar-Hoshiarpur-Dasuha road, Kiratpur Sahib-Nangal-Una road, Hoshiarpur-Tanda road, high level bridge on Sutlej river at Makhu, Moga-Kotakpura road, Ferozepur-Fazilka road, Bhawanigarh-Nabha-Gobindgarh road, Dakha-Raikot-Barnala road, and now on Patiala-Nabha-Malerkotla road. He emphasized that the Punjab government is committed to providing maximum economic relief to its citizens while focusing on building quality infrastructure.

With this move, the state government continues to prioritize the welfare of its citizens, providing tangible economic benefits and improving the overall driving experience on state highways, concluded PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO.
(editor@dailyworld.in)