CHANDIGARH, Oct 3 —A move hailed as a historic step toward economic relief, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has permanently closed 18 toll plazas across the state, delivering daily savings of approximately ₹61.67 lakh directly to citizens. The decision, described by officials as a milestone in the journey toward a “Rangla Punjab,” is aimed at easing financial burdens on the public while streamlining road travel.
“Removing toll plazas is a significant step toward providing economic relief to the people. This will make traffic on roads smooth and hassle-free,” said Public Works Department Minister Harjibajan Singh ETO. He added that since coming to power, the Mann government has abolished tolls on roughly 535.45 kilometers of state highways.
The closures include: Lachhowal toll plaza on Tanda-Hoshiarpur Road, saving ₹1.94 lakh daily; Majri (SBS Nagar), Nangal Shahidan, and Mangarh (Hoshiarpur) on Balachaur-Garhshankar-Hoshiarpur-Dasuya Road, saving ₹10.52 lakh; Makkhu bridge toll, saving ₹0.60 lakh; Kiratpur Sahib-Nangal-Una Road toll, saving ₹10.12 lakh; Samana-Patiaran Road, ₹3.75 lakh; Moga-Kotkapura Road, ₹4.50 lakh; Fazilka-Firozpur Highway, ₹6.34 lakh; Rakba to Mehal Kalan on Dakha-Barnala SH-13, ₹4.5 lakh; Bhawanigarh-Nabha-Gobindgarh tolls, ₹3.50 lakh; Patiala-Nabha-Malerkotla, ₹2.90 lakh; and Ladda and Ahmadgarh on Ludhiana-Malerkotla-Sangrur Road, ₹13 lakh daily.
The closures, officials said, represent more than just economic relief—they are a symbolic reversal of previous governments’ policies. Mann described the toll plazas as “shops openly looting the common public,” a practice that had been ignored for years. “This is not just an administrative decision; it is an emotional relationship that the government has built with the public,” a senior official noted.
By removing tolls, the Mann government says it is shifting governance priorities from corporate profits to citizen welfare. “Today, when any Punjabi passes through these toll-free routes, they realize that yes, this government is ours,” said an official briefing.
Chief Minister Mann, while announcing the closures, said his government has ended the era of “renting out roads.” Toll plazas, often criticized as centers of alleged exploitation, have been replaced with a citizen-focused system aimed at both convenience and economic justice.
“The lock on 18 toll plazas is a symbol of the common man of Punjab’s faith that their elected government now stands as their shield,” Mann said. The decision, officials emphasized, marks a broader strategy of “service, not loot,” reflecting the government’s commitment to delivering relief and dignity to every Punjabi.
With roads now toll-free, the government says the initiative will accelerate development, boost economic savings for citizens, and strengthen public trust—key pillars of the envisioned “Rangla Punjab.”
