2 April
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The toll plaza at Raqba on Mullanpur Raikot Road ceased operations today, marking the end of its 15-year tenure. The toll plaza, which commenced operations on May 15, 2009, was scheduled to close on April 2, 2024, as per its initial agreement.
Following the toll plaza’s closure, the Punjab government implemented a shift from 8 am to 4 pm and officially handed over operations from Public Works to the Department. Despite a lockdown in the country leading to its closure for 464 days, an appeal by Rohan Rajdeep Company to extend the toll plaza’s duration for those days was rejected by the Punjab government.
The toll plaza manager stated that adherence to the government’s directive led to the dismissal of approximately 43 employees, predominantly from Punjab, including five female employees. The closure of the toll plaza has stirred concerns among those affected, highlighting the economic ramifications and job loss resulting from its shutdown.