Gurgaon: Samiti to protest at Kherki Daula toll plaza on May 15

Members of Gurgaon Toll Hatao Sangarsh Samiti will stage a protest at Kherki Daula on May 15 to get the toll plaza shifted. The group was instrumental in getting the Sirhaul toll plaza removed in 2014.

The members of the samiti met on Sunday and decided that a civil society movement will be organised to press for removal of the toll plaza. Toll Hatao Sangarsh Samiti is a registered organisation and it works in tandem with other local civil society groups and NGOs.

The samiti says Kherki Daula toll plaza is a bottleneck for office employees going to Manesar, villagers brining their produce to Gurgaon and other commuters. This toll plaza should have been removed in 2014 itself had the government not agreed for an out-of-court settlement with the developer.

“We are working towards building a consensus among the people so that Kherki Daula toll plaza also becomes history. A protest will be held on May 15 to press for this demand,” Attar Singh Sandhu, chairman of Toll Hatao Sangarsh Samiti, said.

Daily traffic jams, frequent accidents and heated exchanges with toll agents have also peeved the samiti members. “We have waited enough for the government to take action. Now, we are planning a protest and the future course of action will be decided soon,” Col Kanwar Bhardwaj, a patron of the samiti, said.

Large number of farmers, who bring fresh produce, including vegetables, flowers and milk, for sale in Gurgaon from Farrukhnagar and Rewari also suffer due to the daily jams at the toll. “There are a number of farmers in Farrukhnagar, who bring fresh items to be sold at the Gurgaon mandi, but the toll plaza jams are a major barrier. We will come and protest in large numbers on May 15 and thereafter,” Rao Man Singh, chairman of Gurgaon farmers club, said.

The Samiti will also mobilise women to participate in the protest, said Shammi Ahlawat, head of the women’s wing.