Farmers in Yamuna eway standoff: Slip roads or free entry

The farmers argued that they have been finding it difficult to cross the expresway from one side to the other because of the lack of slip roads and interchanges.

“We gave the land for the expressway,but we are now kept away from it. We were told that slip roads would be built. For an 84-km stretch between Mathura and Tappal (in Aligarh district),there are none. There should be slip roads or small interchanges such as the one made for the F1 circuit (in Greater Noida),” said Ram Babu Kateria,who is heading the agitation in Tappal and Mathura.

Virendra Dadha of the Rashtriya Kisan Union,which held a protest in Jhewar,said: “We were told that farmers would not have to pay toll,which is why we agreed to give our land. Now that we also have to pay toll even to visit neighbouring villages,we need the slip roads urgently. Build slip roads,or make the expressway toll-free for us.”

Farmers from the three districts said they would continue with the agitation. “Nobody from the administration has spoken to us. Our agitation in Tappal is on and we will start protesting in Bajna,too. If our demands are not met,we will not let a single car pass,” Kateria said.

Given the threats,police deployment has been increased along the road.

Mathura SSP N R Padmaja said: “We have been informed about the proposed protest on August 20. Extra personnel will be deployed. Law and order will be maintained at all cost.”

Noida police officials said they were consulting Jaypee Group,the company that runs the expressway.

Jaypee officials said there was no immediate plan to make the road toll-free for the farmers.

“We paid close to Rs 13,000 crore to build this road. The only way to recover the cost is through toll. There is no mention of any concession in the agreement between Jaypee and the UP government.”

“Toll is waived when land is bought at concessional rates. But here we paid the full amount,so there is no question of a waiver. However,we will build 56 km of slip roads,out of which 28 are yet to be completed. These will be ready in the next six months,” Sameer Gaur,Managing Director of Jaypee Infratech,said.