JK News Today
Jammu, July 22:
Ajay Kumar Rajak, Project Director, NHAI, PIU-Jammu informed that full cooperation is being extended by the public as well as Administration of UT of J&K in running the recently commenced Lakhanpur Fee Plaza in District Kathua on Pathankot-Jammu National Highway NH-44 w.e.f. 21.07.2020.
Project Director further informed that as result of successful commencement of Thandikhui&Lakhanpur Fee Plazas, a lot of developments works on the existing NH-44 which were previously not being approved due to non-functional toll plazas will start very soon which include the following
- Construction of service road and new bridge at Golden Gate at Lakhanpur.
- Construction of Flyover (VUP) at PalliMorh.
- Installation of Solar lights and solar blinkers on vulnerable Junctions from Lakhanpur to Kunjwani
- Construction of flyover (LVUP) at ChiChi Mata Temple.
- Extension of Service road at Maheshwar.
- Construction of new 3-lane bridge at SIDCO Chowk Samba (Basanter Bridge).
Moreover DPR of Delhi-Katra Expressway is in progress and Land Acquisition for the same has already been started. Six lanning of Vijaypur-KunjwaniSatwari-Jammu Airport Stretch will be developed as spur of Delhi-Katra Expressway.
Apart from these certain other works as part of DPR for balance works is under consideration of NHAI HQ New Delhi for tendering in this financial year and Value Addition DPR involving flyovers/grade separation at HatliMorh, Kalibari, Dayalachak, Samba, Supwaletc is under progress.
Project Director also clarified the reason as to why public has to pay three types of tax for use of road.
The use of three type of taxes is to be clarified as follows:
- User Fee (Toll) – Used by Central Govt for construction/maintenance of National Highways through NHAI only.
- Cess on Petrol/Diesel (CRF) – Distributed between Centre and State Governments for construction/maintenance of State roads, rural roads and other National Highways.
- Road Tax (RTO) – Is a State tax and is a part of revenue of State Govt used for various development activities by State Govt.
The local people have started availing the facility of monthly pass. Ish Gupta, Nodal Officer Lakhanpur Fee Plaza informed that any person, who owns a mechanical vehicle, residing within a distance of 20 Km from the Fee Plaza can avail this facility by paying Rs. 275/- per month through FASTag for which copy of RC & Identity Proof with same address are required.
Further, if vehicle has been brought at some other place (address on RC not within 20 Km from Toll Plaza but person currently residing within 20 Km of Toll Plaza), then Monthly pass facility can be availed by providing identity proofs of current residence as well as electricity and utility bills of the current address for proof of residence.
On return journey within 24 hours the FASTag account is automatically debited with half the applicable toll rate on returning.Commercial vehicles registered in the same District i.e. Kathua will be charged 50% of the toll rates (except vehicles plying on National Permit).All discounts are available through FASTag only. Also, through FASTag commuters can save time, fuel and pollution can be avoided.
The 12 lane Fee Plaza developed for smooth and fast collection of User Fee is running smoothly and there is no traffic congestion. The ETC (FASTag) Infrastructure has been installed for electronic toll payment by the road commuters and is fully functional. Further, traffic is segregated into dedicated lane for buses, trucks, LMV and Exempted & VIP Lanes.
User Fee as per the rates issued through Gazette notification published by Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Govt. of India on 04.3.2014 in the official Gazette of India and calculated as per NH Fee Rules, 2008 (as amended) is being charged and toll rates will be reduced to 40% on recovery of the capital cost of the Project.
At the end NHAI once again thanks the District Administration, commuters and public for kind cooperation and smooth functioning of toll plaza.
