Chandigarh, November 5, 2025 – The Punjab government has progressively closed 19 toll plazas since 2022, claiming the move saves the public ₹65 lakh a day and prevents “unnecessary financial burden,” officials said.
The closures follow reports of contract breaches, delayed road maintenance, and unpaid royalties by operators. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that companies failing to meet obligations would face penalties, noting that some tolls were shut down well before contract expiry.
The first closures began with Ladda and Ahmedgarh toll plazas on the Sangrur-Ludhiana road in September 2022. The government rejected compensation claims from operators, citing global crises such as COVID-19 and the farmers’ agitation, stating that public money should not bear the cost. Subsequent closures included Lachhowal, Nakkiyan, Samana-Patran, Rakba, Mahal Kalan, and Jagraon-Nakodar.
During the closure of the Nakkiyan toll in April 2023, Mann highlighted delays of over 1,000 days in road maintenance and recovery of penalties totaling ₹67 crore. Similarly, at the Singhawala toll plaza, accumulated penalties of ₹3.89 crore had reportedly been ignored by previous administrations.
State officials said the move has made nearly 590 kilometers of state highways toll-free, benefiting daily commuters, traders, and students. The government calculated the total savings at ₹225 crore annually, which can now be redirected to development projects rather than private operators’ coffers.
The progressive closure of tolls is being presented by the state government as a demonstration of accountability and public-interest governance. “This campaign shows that political will can dismantle the system that burdened ordinary people,” a government source mentioned, highlighting that the measure contrasts with prior practices where operators allegedly enjoyed protection from closure.
