Nandi responds to Anupriya Patel, stating, “Toll plaza is fine, the distance between toll plazas is accurate, and there is no improper collection”.

Lucknow : Minister in the Yogi Government, Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, has dismissed allegations made by Union Minister of State Anupriya Patel concerning irregularities at the toll plaza on Varanasi-Shaktinagar Marg as ‘baseless.’ According to Nandi, there is no unauthorized toll collection occurring in relation to the matter in question.

In a response letter to Anupriya Patel, the Industrial Development Minister of the UP government addressed each allegation point-by-point, providing factual information. He stated that toll plazas were previously established at three locations along the Varanasi-Shaktinagar road: Fattepur (4.680 km), Lodhi (68.100 km), and Maloghat (108.940 km), all in accordance with the prescribed standards.

Following a complaint from a private developer, it was reported that vehicles travelling to Shaktinagar from the Fattepur toll plaza were using the Varanasi-Shaktinagar route before Ahraura, passing through Chunar and Narayanpur-Jamui. Similarly, vehicles coming from Shaktinagar to Varanasi are diverting via Chakia after passing Ahraura (chainage 18.700 km), resulting in a loss of revenue.

To address the revenue leakage, conditional approval was granted to establish an additional toll collection booth at Ahraura. The condition stipulates that toll fees must be collected from vehicles at either the Fattepur or Ahraura toll plaza.

The state government minister has clarified that tolls are collected at Ahraura only from vehicles that do not pay at Fattepur and choose to use the Varanasi-Shaktinagar route. He emphasized that tolls are collected at only one of the two plazas. Thus, the above mentioned toll arrangement and the distance between one toll and another is as per the established standards. 

Additionally, the private developer M/s ACP Tollways Pvt. Ltd. (M/s APCO) was previously instructed to implement a fast tag system for toll collection at the booths. However, due to their failure to take the necessary action, their representative was summoned again on July 14 and directed to ensure the installation of the fast tag system at all toll booths along the route within a month. Therefore, the objections raised by the Union Minister of State are considered ‘baseless.’

It is important to note that the Varanasi-Shaktinagar Road (SH-05A) has been constructed by a private developer under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement. According to the concession agreement, the concession period for the road spans 20 years, from February 5, 2013, to February 4, 2033.