Dev Thakur || EP EXCLUSIVE
JAMMU & KASHMIR, JULY 23: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has started a new toll plaza at Lakhanpur, the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir, in Kathua district from July 21.
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The NHAI has signed a letter of agreement (LoA) for the operationalisation of the plaza with the Haryana-based Ranchordas Company. With this, all Kashmir-bound tourists and Vaishno Devi pilgrims entering or leaving J&K will have to shell out extra money at three toll posts —Thandi Khui toll plaza, Ban toll plaza and Lakhanpur toll plaza.
Basically, Lakhanpur is the major entry point to the Jammu & Kashmir. As per law of the land, every vehicle entering or going out of the J&K has to pay toll tax. Hence Lakhanpur being major entry point to the J&K every vehicle whether light or heavy, loaded or empty has to pay toll at this point barring few exceptions where the toll is exempted under different SROs. In this connection the Government of Jammu & Kashmir has set up the Toll Post under the administrative control of Dy. Excise Commissioner, Toll Post Lakhanpur for the collection of toll tax under different heads i.e. Toll on Goods, and Basic Toll. Toll on Goods is levied on weight, number and Advelorum basis is charged on goods and the basic toll is charged on vehicles whether heavy or light in nature.
Earlier BJP leader Ravinder Raina said in a statement, “Each and every action of the government will be in accordance with the welfare of the people of nation. And in context to this, the toll tax from Lakhanpur has been dismissed.”
When asked BJP leader Vikram Randhawa about the same, he replied “The toll tax of Lakhanpur earlier belonged to the state government authority but now it has been taken over by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) as promised to them earlier.”
“When it was planned to make 6-lane highway roads, it was presumed at that time to make toll plazas at every 60 km distance. And as per that, the thing are working.” He added.
As per the toll fee fixed by the NHAI at the Lakhanpur toll plaza, the light motor vehicles will be charged Rs 85 for single journey and Rs 130 for return journey within 24 hours. Similarly, a mini-bus will be charged Rs 140 for single and Rs 205 for double entry, while bus/truck (two axle) will be charged Rs 290 for single and Rs 435 for double entry.
From January 1, the UT administration had abolished all inter-state minor toll posts, including the Lakhanpur toll post to fully implement the idea of “one nation, one tax” post the GST regime after scrapping J&K’s special status and its division into two UTs.
Meanwhile, the ruling BJP at the Centre has been facing criticism for turning Jammu into a “city of toll plazas” as Two toll posts,
