JOIN USVillagers block Yamuna e-way, demand toll tax waiver
Hundreds of farmers supported by the Bharatiya Kisan Union activists staged a sit-in at the Greater Noida-Agra Yamuna Expressway on Thursday and blocked traffic, demanding a toll tax exemption for the villagers living along the 165-km road.
The protestors claimed that during the acquisition of land for the project, they were assured by the developers that no toll would be levied on farmers and villagers living along the expressway.
Raising slogans against the government and developers Jaypee Infratech, the agitating farmers sat on the expressway at Greater Noida for over an hour after which the police arrested them and whisked them away.
Police said they tried to pacify the farmers but they refused to budge and since traffic jam was to be cleared, they had to arrest the agitators.
Thursday was the first day after a six-day toll tax holiday, announced by Jaypee Group executive chairman Manoj Gaur on August 9, soon after the inauguration of the expressway and the villagers were insisting on travelling free across the three toll points that dot the expressway.
The BKU leaders said they would not rest until they get a toll tax waiver and threatened a bigger agitation in the coming days. “On other toll roads this has been the rule, so why is it not being followed here?” a villager asked.
Following the agitation the developers have increased the presence of security personnel.
Minister Parasnath Yadav said that the chief minister was himself monitoring the project and the matter would be taken up in the cabinet soon.
Bus service from Noida
UP Roadways has introduced a bus service via Yamuna e-way, which would be avaialble from UP Roadways bus depot near Metro City Centre, Noida.
Six trips a day are planned. The first bus for Agra will depart at 7 am and the other departure timings are 9 am, 11 am, 1pm, 4 pm and 7 pm. One trip is planned for visitors to Mathura also. The departure time for Mathura route bus is 6 pm.
The fare for Agra is Rs 135 and for Mathura Rs 102. If passenger volume is enough to run the fleet, UPSRTC has planned not to pass on the toll burden to passengers.
However, if passenger volume is less, then the fare will be hiked in next few days.