‘No road, No toll’ protest suspended in Bhind after intervention:Saints call off dharna, administration promises highway work in 7–8 months

The saint community’s protest at the Baraitha toll plaza in Malanpur, Bhind district, demanding the widening of the national highway, was called off on Tuesday following assurances from the administration. During the demonstration, which lasted around one and a half to two hours, officials from Bhind and Gwalior were present at the site. A large police force had been deployed to handle any untoward situation. After the protest was suspended, toll collection from vehicles at the plaza resumed. Administrative officials assured the saint community that the government had already received the complete project proposal for widening the national highway. The detailed project report (DPR) is expected to be ready within the next seven to eight months. Following this, the land acquisition process will begin, and the necessary notifications will be issued. Following these assurances, the saint community called off the symbolic protest. Kalidas Maharaj, president of the saint committee, warned that the community was giving the administration one more chance. He added that if there is any negligence in highway construction or delays in preparing the project, the saint community will return to the streets and ensure that toll collection is stopped at any cost. Pictures from the protest site… ‘Public is troubled, demand justified’: Hemant Katare Congress MLA Hemant Katare extended full support to the agitation, calling NH-719 a “highway of death”. “The public is deeply troubled and the government is in deep slumber. The saints’ demand of ‘No road, no toll’ is completely justified. Why should people pay tax when there is no proper road?” Katare said while raising slogans with the protesters. Gadkari’s assurance still unfulfilled, say saints The saint community alleged that seven months ago, they met Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia was also present and had assured them that work would begin soon. According to the saints, Gadkari had pulled up officials during the meeting, saying, “I don’t know where the toll is. First, the highway should be expanded.”Despite officials claiming the project would be completed by 2028, the saints allege that not a single stone has been laid on the ground even after seven months. NH-719 ‘a highway of death’ Saint Committee president Kalidas Maharaj said that hundreds of people and cattle have died in accidents on NH-719 over the last two years. “Accidents are happening every day, yet local MPs and MLAs do not raise this issue seriously in the Assembly or Parliament,” he said. He also claimed that Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar had acknowledged in discussions that Bhind’s representatives have failed to pursue the matter forcefully. ‘This is a decisive battle’, say saints Dandraua Sarkar Mahant Ramdas Maharaj made it clear that the agitation will not be withdrawn easily. “This is a decisive battle. Until work on making the highway six-lane begins on the ground, toll collection will not be allowed,” he said. The saint community warned that if their demands are not addressed soon, the movement will be intensified further. Key demands of the protest