NHAI Incurs Rs 500 Crore Loss In Toll Collection Due To Ongoing Farmer Protests, To Impact Future Projects

Due to the ongoing farmer protests, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has incurred a loss of around Rs 500 crores in toll collections in Punjab and Haryana, reports The Times of India.

The toll collection on national highways of Punjab has stopped completely since 5 October 2020. In Haryana, there has been very little collection of toll since 25 December 2020.

“We have no option but to stop toll collections. The revenue loss has a direct impact on our performance and future projects. The traffic on Delhi-Jaipur stretch has also reduced drastically because of the protests and vehicles are taking long detours to avoid the NH fearing blockade,” said an NHAI official.

Farmers, particularly from Punjab, are protesting against the three farm laws brought in by the Modi government since October 2020.

The protesters are demanding a full roll back of the laws aimed to liberalize trading and transportation of agriculture commodities.

Protests are marked by a blockade of roads leading to Delhi by camping along the border points. In a major assessment, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) has said that the ongoing protests against the three farm sector reform laws will lead to an economic loss of over Rs 70,000 crore in the December quarter.

However, the protesting farmers are stuck on their demand of repealing the new laws and said that they are prepared to protest till 2024.