BOTs, a gift of Congress govt, can't be removed: Sud

Hoshiarpur, May 11 (UNI) Minister for Forest, Medical Education and Research and Parliamentary Affairs Tikshan Sud today said that toll-plazas, a ''gift'' of the previous Congress government to the people of Hoshiarpur district could not be removed now.

''According to the agreement between the private companies and then state government, the former had widened and strengthened the Balachaur-Dasuya and Hoshiarpur-Tanda roads under Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis, for which toll would remain in force for 17 years,'' Mr Sud said.

The local population here is holding a protracted agitation against the toll plaza and had blocked the highway on many occasions in recent weeks.

Noting that the commuters of these roads were bound to pay the toll according to the scheduled rates, Mr Sud however, assured people to take up the issue again with Chief Minister Parkash Sigh Badal, to provide some relief to the people.

UNI