Highways authority dithering on JNPT toll issue

The issue of toll payments at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) promises to take yet another turn with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) dragging its feet on the transporters' demand to withdraw toll tax on National Highway 4B.

Sources present at a meeting on Thursday in New Delhi said that NHAI officials at the meeting "appeared reluctant" to withdraw the toll.

Currently, transporters using NH 4B pay a toll of Rs 130 each way. After a one-day strike in September, JNPT had issued a pass for regular transporters reducing the two-way toll from Rs 260 to Rs 190.

However, transporters have refused to pay even the reduced toll, claiming that the road is only an approach road to the port and have threatened an indefinite strike if the toll was not withdrawn.

Union minister for surface transport T R Baalu had promised during a visit to Mumbai last week that he would convene a meeting of all stakeholders to resolve the issue. But had avoided answering specific questions on the issue of toll withdrawal. JN Port handles around 90 per cent of the cargo from northern and western India.

A senior JNPT official said, "A series of meeting is in progress in Delhi with the representatives of shipping lines, transporters and NHAI to sort out the road cess issue. Yesterday's meeting was inconclusive. JNPT chairman Ravi Budhiraja and NHAI will again convene a meeting to sort out the issue," he said.