The Shivalik Vikas Manch, a prominent non-governmental organisation, has formally approached the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) with urgent demands. The plea seeks immediate intervention to resolve the severe inconveniences plaguing commuters and residents at the Chandimandir toll plaza on the busy Zirakpur-Parwanoo National Highway.
Core Grievances Against New Concessionaire
According to the memorandum submitted to the NHAI secretary, the problems began after the toll plaza's operations were handed over to a new private concessionaire. Vijay Bansal, the president of the Shivalik Vikas Manch, spearheaded the complaint. He highlighted that residents living within a 10-kilometre radius of the plaza are facing mounting difficulties directly linked to this management change.
A major point of contention is the drastic reduction in the validity of local toll passes. Thanks to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) secured back in 2012, locals were previously entitled to convenient one-year toll passes. However, the new operator has allegedly slashed this benefit to a mere three months. This shift has created significant financial and procedural burdens for daily commuters.
Procedural Hurdles and Traffic Nightmares
Bansal further accused the new management of discontinuing the online payment facility for these local passes. This forces residents to make physical trips to the toll plaza for manual transactions. Earlier, the system was seamless, with the monthly pass amount being automatically deducted via FASTag. Now, commuters are compelled to repeatedly visit the booth, wasting time and fuel.
Beyond the policy changes, the NGO's plea underscores a critical operational failure: rampant traffic congestion. Severe traffic jams have become a routine occurrence at the plaza. Vehicles are frequently stuck for extended periods, ranging from 30 minutes to over an hour. These delays are causing widespread frustration and disrupting the schedules of thousands of commuters daily.
Call for Immediate Resolution
The Shivalik Vikas Manch's action represents a collective outcry from the affected community. The memo to the NHAI is a clear demand for the authority to hold the new private concessionaire accountable. The core request is for the restoration of resident-friendly policies and the implementation of efficient systems to decongest the crucial highway point. The situation calls for swift administrative action to alleviate the daily hardships faced by the public.
