On a road built on Delhiites’ land, local farmers are now being forced to pay to use their own passage. The BJP government has imposed a ₹350 toll on UER-2 — a stretch that Prime Minister himself inaugurated — in clear violation of rules that forbid tolls within 10 km of city limits. Calling it “open loot” of villagers and farmers, senior AAP leader and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha asserted that the party stands shoulder to shoulder with Delhi’s rural communities in their fight against this injustice.
Present at the site with locals, senior AAP leader and Burari MLA Sanjeev Jha stated, “The Urban Extension Road-2 (UER-2), which passes through the Mundka toll, was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi. This is the first toll in Delhi that has been placed inside the city. As per the National Highway Free Rule, a toll must be set up at least 10 kilometres away from the municipal area. Yet, for the first time in Delhi’s history, a toll has been set up within 10 kilometres, and the cost of this toll has been fixed at ₹334.”
Explaining how land acquisition took place, he said, “For UER-2, land was acquired from villages such as Mundka, Bawana and others in the surrounding area. Villagers gave their land at very low prices, and now they are being forced to pay toll themselves. At the time of inauguration, the local BJP MLA had said that no toll would be taken from villagers. But now, when the toll has started, security personnel stop people. This is nothing less than goondaism.”
Highlighting the struggles of villagers, Sanjeev Jha said, “Villagers are continuously protesting against this issue. If a farmer has to go to his field, he has to cross the toll. The same happens even for weddings. For example, if one has to go from Mundka to Bawana 20 times for a wedding, then the toll has to be paid 20 times. This is absolutely wrong. Farmers are sitting on a ‘dharna’ over this issue. If toll is not waived for all villages within a 20-kilometre radius, there will be another protest on 21st September.”
He asserted, “When governments refuse to listen, then agitation becomes necessary. On 21st September, all Aam Aadmi Party leaders and workers will give full support to this movement. This is sheer tyranny and arbitrariness against local people. The country is supposed to run by rules and laws. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had said in Parliament that the toll would be charged at 65 paise per kilometre.”
“According to that, the toll for 40 kilometres comes to only ₹24-30. Then how was such a huge amount of ₹334 fixed? This is a clear violation of Nitin Gadkari’s statement. With whose collusion is this loot happening? In Parliament, Nitin Gadkari says one thing, but in reality, something completely different is being collected from the people,” he added.
Demanding action from the Centre, Sanjeev Jha said, “Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari must stop this atrocity. The exploitation of Delhi’s people must end. If this does not happen, there will be a massive movement. The Aam Aadmi Party will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the local villagers in this agitation until this toll is completely removed.”
