Chandigarh, November 5, 2025 – The Punjab government has closed 19 toll plazas across the state since March 2022, providing daily savings of around ₹65 lakh for commuters and an estimated ₹225 crore annually, officials said.
The Aam Aadmi Party administration, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, cited contract violations, failure to maintain roads, and non-payment of royalties as reasons for shutting the tolls. The closures cover nearly 590 kilometers of state highways, offering relief to farmers, traders, students, and daily commuters.
“The era of ‘road rent’ in Punjab has ended,” Mann said during the closure of the Nakkiyan toll plaza in April 2023. The operator had delayed laying the second layer of bitumen by 1,093 days and owed a penalty of ₹67 crore, which previous governments had not recovered, he noted.
Earlier closures included Ladda and Ahmedgarh tolls in September 2022, Lachhowal in December 2022, and Singhawala in July 2023. In the latter case, Mann revealed that penalties exceeding ₹3.89 crore could have prompted closure in 2019, but the previous Congress government allegedly allowed the toll to continue.
Officials said the government’s actions demonstrate a shift from past practices where toll operators were often shielded from accountability. “Companies that violate contract terms or fail to maintain roads will not be spared,” a state transport official mentioned.
The government’s campaign continued into 2024 and 2025, with tolls at Rakba, Mahal Kalan, and most recently, Jagraon-Nakodar being closed for failing to repair roads or pay due royalties, even before contract expiration.
Punjab residents say the closures are easing daily commuting costs. Farmers, traders, and schoolchildren now have toll-free access to key highways, officials added.
