Govt to make sure one toll plaza within 60 km radius, says Nitin Gadkari

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that there should be one toll plaza within a 60 km radius on national highways and he will ensure the norms are fully implemented in the next three months. He also said that in case, there are multiple toll plazas on highways within a 60 km radius, he will make sure the other ones are closed.

"I will ensure that there will be only one toll plaza within 60 km and if there's a second toll plaza, then it will be shut in the next three months," Gadkari said, replying to a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the demands for grants pertaining to his ministry. he also said that people residing near the toll plazas will be able to get passes with the use of Aadhar cards.

Multiple toll plazas often result in a slower speed of vehicles on roads. Removal of multiple toll plazas in a 60 km radius on the highways would help in reducing the congestion.

Meanwhile, speaking about the infrastructure development projects in Jammu and Kashmir, Nitin Gadkari said that around 1,000 people are currently working on the Zojila tunnel project.

"In Jammu and Kashmir projects worth ₹7,000 crores are underway. About 1,000 people are working inside the Zojila tunnel at -8 degrees celsius," Gadkari said. He further said that work on the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra highway work has begun. "By end of this year, we'll be able to reach Mumbai from Srinagar in 20 hours and the distance between Delhi and Amritsar will be covered in four hours," Gadkari further added.