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Agra-Lucknow Expressway tolls thrown into chaos! Workers took an unusual stand over a Diwali bonus dispute, letting vehicles pass freely. What sparked this bold protest and how did authorities respond?
Workers protested over low Diwali bonus at Fatehabad toll plaza.
Fatehabad: Toll workers at the Fatehabad toll plaza on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway caused a major disruption on Monday by opening all gates and allowing thousands of vehicles to pass without paying toll charges. The protest was triggered by dissatisfaction over a limited Diwali bonus of Rs 1,100, which the workers deemed insufficient.
The toll plaza is managed by Shri Sign & Datar, a company that took over operations in March this year. Since assuming control, disagreements over bonus calculations have been ongoing, culminating in Monday’s protest. Twenty-one employees were directly involved in the unrest.
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In a show of dissent, the workers halted their duties and manually opened all the toll gates, effectively stopping the collection of toll fees. Drivers on the expressway were allowed to pass freely, causing a temporary but significant loss in toll revenue.
Attempts by the management to bring in replacement staff failed as the protesting workers refused to allow anyone to operate the plaza. This led to escalating tensions, prompting police intervention. Law enforcement officials arrived at the scene to maintain order and mediate discussions between the workers and company management.
Following two hours of disruption, senior officials from Shri Sign & Datar engaged with the protesting employees. During discussions, the management assured workers of a 10% salary increase as a quick resolution to the impasse. The workers accepted this assurance, resumed their duties, and normal toll collection operations were restored.
Shri Sign & Datar defended the limited bonus by citing the timing of their takeover of the toll plaza. According to company officials, they assumed management responsibilities in March and were unable to provide a full-year Diwali bonus. The management expressed regret over the situation but maintained that the bonus amount was in line with the period of their operational control.
While the protest lasted only about two hours, it created a temporary inconvenience for thousands of commuters using the Agra-Lucknow Expressway.
Vehicles were able to pass without payment, and toll collection resumed only after assurances from management were given. Law enforcement and toll staff coordinated to ensure that normal operations were restored without further incident.
Labor unrest over bonuses and wages is not uncommon at toll plazas in India, especially when management changes hands. Workers often demand full-year benefits irrespective of the company’s takeover date, while management cites operational and financial constraints.
The Fatehabad incident highlights the delicate balance between employee satisfaction and uninterrupted toll operations. It also underscores the importance of timely negotiations and transparent communication to prevent disruptions on major expressways.
