Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Feb 05 : The Government of India on Wednesday informed the Parliament that five new toll (fee) plazas have become operational in Jammu and Kashmir during the past six financial years as part of National Highway infrastructure expansion.
In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that fee plazas are opened on completed National Highway projects in accordance with the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, and the terms of concession agreements, including prescribed distance norms between plazas.
The Minister stated that National Highway construction across States and Union Territories has witnessed significant growth during the past six years, with cumulative construction in Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, recorded at 1,874 kilometres.
However, the government clarified that fee plazas are not opened arbitrarily, and are established only after completion of highway projects and fulfillment of mandatory conditions.
The reply also noted that future toll plazas will be set up strictly as per rules, depending on project completion and statutory requirements—(KNO)
