Local residents of villages near the Bastara toll plaza on National Highway 44 have opposed the installation of the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system, alleging that it will impose an additional financial burden on them.
Residents said they were earlier allowed to cross the toll plaza free of cost by showing their Aadhaar cards as proof of residence. However, under the new MLFF system, they will have to pay toll charges like other commuters.
Claiming that the move has ended a long-standing toll exemption, locals said they frequently use the highway for short-distance travel and daily commuting, making regular toll payments an unnecessary expense. They urged the government to safeguard the interests of nearby villagers while implementing the technology-driven toll collection system.
A delegation of residents met Union Minister and Karnal MP Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday at the Bastara toll plaza, demanding either complete toll exemption for locals or a reduction in the monthly concession pass fee from the existing Rs 350 to Rs 180 for residents living within a 20-km radius of the toll plaza. Khattar assured them that their concerns would be addressed. He also hinted at the possibility of an annual pass costing Rs 2,000 for commuters.
The MLFF system replaces conventional toll plazas with barrier-free toll collection. Tolls are collected automatically through FASTag-based RFID readers and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, allowing vehicles to pass without stopping.
As per the system, a vehicle passing through the MLFF corridor without a valid FASTag or with insufficient balance will be identified through ANPR cameras, and an e-notice will be issued. Vehicle owners will have 72 hours to pay the toll amount, failing which they may be charged double the toll.
Gurpartap Virk, a resident of Gharaunda, said there should be a mechanism to exempt local residents, similar to the system that existed earlier. “We request the Union Ministry to exempt all local commuters from paying toll," he added.
Rajat Lather, Youth Congress district president, who met Khattar at the Bastara toll plaza, said the new system unfairly burdens local commuters. “It is surprising that at almost every other toll plaza in the region, including Panipat and Murthal, local residents are allowed free passage by showing their Aadhaar cards. The same practice existed at the Bastara toll plaza, but now locals have been asked to pay," he said.
Lather said the delegation had urged the Union Minister to either exempt local commuters from toll payment or introduce a concessional annual pass of Rs 2,000.
JP Shekhpura, a social activist, blamed the government for introducing the new system at the Bastara toll plaza. He alleged that locals were being forced to pay toll charges. “All local commuters should be exempted from paying toll," he demanded.
The residents also submitted a memorandum to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and toll authorities in support of their demands.
