Toll employees organise dharna, commuters navigate Abohar-Sriganganagar road for free

The toll plaza located on the Abohar-Sriganganagar stretch of the National Highway 62 was today made free for all when the staff organised a protest demanding an increase in their salaries along with other facilities. No vehicle had to pay the fee as the protest went on for about two hours.

In the past, farmers’ organisations have held protests at the same toll plaza, which has been involved in various controversies due to collecting fees even when the highway road was yet to be reconstructed. There was also a protest when people found that the plaza lacked basic amenities, including potable water for drinking and well-equipped ambulances that were listed by the National Highway Authority. Hundreds of vehicles from other states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, pass through this highway.

The employees ended their strike two hours later when the company managers accepted their demands.

Speaking on behalf of the staff, Darshan Singh said although the employees were being given good salaries at other toll plazas, the staff at this very one had to work for over the prescribed hours and were paid less. He said as requests in the past in this regard were not attended, they had to go on strike. After two hours, the management discussed the demands and reached a new agreement.

He claimed that according to the new agreement, an increase has been made in the salary of the employees, and their working hours have also been fixed at eight. He said the staff has agreed to wear uniforms, which would be provided by the management. Apart from this, if any employee was found involved in wrongdoing, then he would be dismissed from the job.