The demand for the closure of the Mannawala toll plaza on the Amritsar-Jalandhar National Highway is gaining momentum, with local residents and political leaders alleging that the toll plaza has completed its 20-year concession period but continues to collect toll charges from commuters.
Sukhwinder Singh Danny Bandala, former Congress MLA from Jandiala Guru, said the toll plaza became operational on May 29, 2006, and completed 20 years on May 29, 2026. He claimed that, according to the agreement signed with the company operating the toll plaza, the concession period was limited to 20 years.
“Even after completing its term, the toll plaza is still charging fees from thousands of vehicles passing through it every day,” Danny said. He added that commuters have borne the burden of toll charges for years and now deserve relief.
Danny questioned why the toll plaza had not been shut down despite the Punjab Government’s decision to close several other toll plazas across the state. “It is surprising that no action has been taken on a toll plaza located on one of the most important routes connecting Amritsar with the rest of the country,” he said.
The issue was earlier raised by Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira. According to Khaira, local lawyer and RTI activist Gurinder Pal Singh had sought information from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which reportedly revealed that the concession period of the toll plaza would end on May 29.
Danny warned that residents of Jandiala Guru would intensify their protest if authorities failed to act on the matter. He also alleged that the contractor had not fulfilled maintenance obligations outlined in the agreement.
“The contractor was required to carry out resurfacing work and repair road shoulders every five years, but this was never done,” he claimed.
He urged the NHAI and the Punjab Government to order the closure of the toll plaza at the earliest, stating that commuters have paid enough over the past two decades and should now be relieved of toll charges.
