Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Closes 19 Toll Plazas, Saving Commuters ₹225 Crore Annually

The Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has taken a historic and reformative step, bringing direct and substantial relief to the public. Since March 2022, the state government has successfully closed a total of 19 toll plazas operating on Punjab’s roads, putting an end to what it called “open plunder.”

This move is more than just an administrative decision—it marks a major milestone in easing the financial burden on the common people. The closure of these 19 toll plazas is translating into a direct saving of around ₹65 lakh per day for commuters across Punjab, amounting to nearly ₹225 crore annually. The decision underscores CM Mann’s commitment to delivering corruption-free and people-centric governance.

In sharp contrast to earlier regimes, which allegedly extended protection to toll operators, the Mann government has taken a firm line—companies that fail to maintain roads, violate contract terms, or default on royalty payments will not be spared. Many of the 19 toll plazas were either shut down after contract expiry—with no extensions granted—or closed as punitive action for breaches. The government’s approach signals a shift in priorities: public interest over corporate profit, and accountability over appeasement.

The crackdown began in 2022, when the government made clear that the “era of loot” was over. On September 4, 2022, the Ladda and Ahmedgarh toll plazas on the Sangrur–Ludhiana road were the first to be shut. The operator had sought a ₹50-crore extension or compensation citing COVID and the farmers’ agitation. CM Mann rejected the plea outright, stating that global crises cannot become an excuse to burden the public. Later, on December 15, 2022, the Lachhowal toll plaza on the Hoshiarpur–Tanda road was closed, and an FIR filed against the operator for contract violations and diversion of funds—signalling that the government meant business.

Momentum built further in 2023. While announcing the closure of the Nakkiyan toll plaza on the Kiratpur Sahib–Nangal–Una road on April 1, 2023, Mann declared, “The era of road rent in Punjab has ended.” The operator had delayed the second layer of bitumen by 1,093 days and owed ₹67 crore in penalties—amounts left unrecovered by previous governments. Its closure alone saved the public ₹10.12 lakh daily. Similar action followed in Patiala’s Samana–Patran stretch and other locations, tightening the noose on defaulting firms.

The Singhawala toll plaza on the Moga–Kotkapura road became emblematic of the government’s new approach. When it was shut on July 5, 2023, Mann revealed that the company had accumulated penalties of ₹3.89 crore—exceeding the ₹3.11 crore threshold for termination. The plaza could have been closed as far back as 2019, but, he alleged, the previous Congress government had protected the operator. The Mann government ended that “nexus” and acted decisively.

The drive continued through 2024 and 2025. In April 2024, the Rakba and Mahal Kalan toll plazas on the Ludhiana–Barnala highway were closed, adding to the growing list of toll-free roads. The latest instance came in October 2025, with the closure of the Jagraon–Nakodar toll plaza—nearly 18 months before its contract was due to end. The operator had failed to maintain the road and pay royalty dues, prompting early termination. This indicates the government’s willingness to act pre-emptively where public interest is compromised.

The cumulative benefit is significant. By April 2023, eight toll closures had saved commuters ₹10.12 lakh a day. By July 2023, with 10 closures, the saving had risen to ₹44.43 lakh daily. As of October 2025, the 19 closures have raised the figure to nearly ₹65 lakh per day, or ₹225 crore annually. Around 590 km of state highways have now been made toll-free—offering tangible relief to farmers, traders, students, and daily commuters alike.

The Mann government’s campaign against toll exploitation marks a defining shift in Punjab’s governance ethos—transparent, people-first, and intolerant of systemic corruption. The ₹225 crore saved annually will now be directed toward public welfare and development instead of private profits. For Punjab, this may well go down as one of the biggest wins for the common man in recent memory.