DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

In a move aimed at providing direct financial relief to the people of Punjab amidst rising inflation, the state government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has closed 16 toll plazas across the state. This translates to a daily saving of Rs 58.77 lakh for commuters.

"The removal of toll plazas is a significant step towards economic relief for the people of Punjab," said Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO in a press statement issued here today while adding that "This will not only ease the financial burden on citizens but also ensure 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 535.45 km of state highways, said ETO

Giving a breakdown of the daily relief provided by the removal of tolls on specific roads, the PWD Minister said that an average relief of Rs. 3.75 lakh daily by closing toll plazas on the Patiala-Samana road, Rs. 13 lakh daily closing 2 toll plazas on Ludhiana-Malerkotla-Sangrur road, Rs. 10.52 lakh daily by closing 3 toll plazas on the Balachaur-Garshankar-Hoshiarpur-Dasuha road, Rs. 10.12 lakh daily by closing toll plaza on the Kiratpur Sahib-Nangal-Una road, Rs. 1.94 lakhs daily by closing toll plaza on Hoshiarpur-Tanda road, Rs. 60 thousand per daily closing toll from the high level bridge on Sutlej river at Makhu, Rs. 4.50 lakhs daily by closing toll plazas on Moga-Kotakpura road, Rs 6.34 lakh daily by removing 2 toll plazas on Ferozepur-Fazilka road, Rs 3.50 lakh daily by removing 2 toll plazas from Bhawanigarh-Nabha-Gobindgarh road, Rs 4.5 lakh daily by removing 2 toll plazas from Dakha-Raikot-Barnala road, is being provided to

the people.

"The Punjab government is committed to providing maximum economic relief to its citizens given the increased level of inflation in the nation, while simultaneously focusing on building quality infrastructure," concluded Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO.
(editor@dailyworld.in)