Har approves policy for relief to commuters from NH toll rates

Ahead of the Assembly polls in Haryana, the state government today approved a policy for providing relief to commuters from the "high toll charges" on the national highways passing through the state.
Addressing a press conference here after chairing a meeting of the state Cabinet, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, "The Haryana government has finalised its own policy to provide relief to commuters of the state."
A Haryana government release said the decision was taken "since the Government of India and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) refused to provide any relief on their own."
As per the policy, 50 per cent subsidy will be given for monthly passes for four tolls under the 2008 Toll Policy in the districts of Panipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Rewari for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs), whether registered in Haryana or not, owned by residents within a radial distance of 30 km from each toll plaza for the relevant single toll plaza.

The policy also provides subsidization of monthly passes to the extent of 75 per cent of all car and jeep owners, whether registered within Haryana or not, residing in a radial distance of 35 km of any of the four toll plazas at Makrauli KaIan, Dahar, Gangaycha Jat and Dighal.
For the toll plaza at Palwal, the facility will be available for car and jeep owners residing within a radial distance of 20 km of the toll plaza by way of subsidising monthly pass charges to the extent of 75 per cent.

This assistance will be applicable for one year in the first place. After one year, the policy will be reconsidered.

Hooda said the state government has also decided to bring about eight to 15 fold increase in the ex-gratia given to family of Central paramilitary forces personnel from Haryana who are killed or get disabled in operational area or in terrorist-related activities.
He said the amount of Rs 2.5 lakh given in case of death in war and action against militants or terrorists, has now been increased to Rs 20 lakh.
Similarly, the sum of Rs 2 lakh given in case of death during internal security operations has been increased to Rs 20 lakh.
Presently, no assistance is provided for death during rescue operations or election duty, the Chief Minister pointed out. Now, Rs 20 lakh would be given in such cases, he said.

Assistance of Rs 1 lakh given in case of 75 per cent disability or above has now been increased to Rs 15 lakh.
He said in case of 50 per cent to 74 per cent disability, the amount of Rs 75,000 provided at present has now been increased to Rs 10 lakh, and in case of 25 per cent to 49 per cent disability, Rs 50,000 provided now has been increased to Rs 5 lakh.