Chandigarh, April 11: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has written to the Punjab Chief Secretary, stating that the closure of toll plazas in the state has caused a cumulative revenue loss of ₹1,638 crore.
According to the letter, the Centre recorded a loss of ₹1,348.77 crore during the period from October 2020 to December 2021. From 2022 to 2023, losses amounted to ₹41.83 crore, while between January and July 2024, the loss stood at ₹179.10 crore.
Reacting to the report, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema held the central government responsible. “This loss is due to the Centre’s own actions. The financial impact should not be shifted onto the state,” Cheema said in a statement.
With the Ministry now formally communicating the figures, officials believe that the Centre may initiate steps to recover the amount from the Punjab government.
