Gadkari asks NHAI chief, toll operators to ensure food, water support to migrant workers

Union Minister Nitin Gkari on Saturday asked NHAI Chairman and toll operators across national highways to provide food, water and or necessary support to migrant workers.

directions came amid reports that migrant workers are facing severe hardships while stranded at various parts in country on account of nationwide lockdown in wake of coronavirus pandemic.

"I have vised Chairman NHAI and Highway Concessioners/Toll operators to consider providing food, water or any kind of support to migrant workers/citizens who are trying to reach to ir respective native places. At this time of crisis we have to be compassionate for our fellow citizens," Ro Transport and Highways Minister Gkari said.

minister expressed hope that toll operators will respond to his call positively.

Earlier, Gkari h asked NHAI to suspend toll on all national highways to ease transportation of essential goods and supplies.

suspension of toll collection on national highways will ease supplies of essential goods across country while facilitating movement of patients and needy people who have obtained curfew passes, Gkari h said.

Urging people to here to nationwide lockdown, minister has said suspension of toll is for people who have to venture out for necessary travel.

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"Even though it's a complete lockdown all over country, re are provisions to issue necessary passes/permissions for those people who approach relevant authorities and convince ir necessities to travel," he h said.

Such passes are being issued by local authorities so that needy people can travel, he ded.

"Suspension of toll collection is for such people who travel in private vehicles. This will ease ir journey without wasting time at toll plaza.

"Toll collection has been suspended to reduce inconvenience to such people who have been issued curfew pass by local ministration/authorities for all vehicles transporting essential goods and even vehicles carrying patients," minister said.

At same time, he urged people to stay indoors and follow vice of local authorities to fight spre of coronavirus.

government earlier this week temporarily suspended toll collection on national highways to ease emergency services in view of coronavirus outbreak.

This will t only reduce inconvenience to emergency services but also save critical time, Gkari h said.

Maintenance of ros and availability of emergency resources at toll plazas will continue as usual.

Earlier, ro transport and highways ministry h vised National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to follow home ministry's guidelines about toll plaza operations following lockdown in wake of coronavirus outbreak in country.

prevailing condition may be treated as "Force Majeure" of concession or contract agreement in terms of finance ministry, it said. 

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