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Agra-Lucknow Expressway toll staff let everyone through without payment to protest low Diwali bonus
Workers at Fatehabad toll post protested over low Diwali bonuses, opening gates for 5,000 vehicles to pass free.
Angry over their Diwali bonus, toll workers at the Fatehabad plaza on the Agra–Lucknow Expressway lifted all barriers on Monday, letting thousands of vehicles pass without paying. The protest briefly turned into a windfall for commuters but threw toll operations into chaos, prompting police to rush to the spot.
Twenty-one workers of the Shri Sign & Datar company that manages the Fatehabad toll post were angry after they were said to have received only ₹1,100 as Diwali bonus.
The protest is expected to have caused the Centre losses worth lakhs of rupees as vehicles crossed the toll gates without paying any tax. At least 5,000 vehicles passed the gates free of cost, as per media reports.
A major artery for Uttar Pradesh, the Yamuna Expressway is a direct link between Agra and Lucknow and connects Delhi and the National Capital Region.
The company tried bringing in workers from other toll booths to resume operations. However, the protesting workers prevented them from taking over, intensifying the chaos.
Police arrived at the spot after being informed about the chaos at the toll booth and tried mediating between the company officials and the agitating workers.
The toll authorities reassured the protesting staff and promised a 10% salary hike to resolve the situation.
"I have been working with the company for the past one year but they have not given us any bonus. We have been working so hard but they do not even give us our salaries on time. The company is telling us now they will replace the staff but will not give us any bonus," one of the protesting employees was quoted as saying by NDTV.
The protest that began on Sunday night ended after 10 hours, after the company assured better working conditions and a salary hike.
