In a surprising turn of events, toll workers at the Fatehabad toll plaza on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway initiated a protest on Monday over perceived low Diwali bonuses. Their demonstration involved opening all toll gates, which resulted in an estimated 5,000 vehicles passing through free of charge. This unexpected toll-free travel was a boon for many commuters but caused significant disruption to normal operations, prompting authorities to intervene.
The protest was reportedly sparked by 21 workers of Shri Sign & Datar company, the operator of the Fatehabad toll post, who were allegedly given a Diwali bonus of only ₹1,100. This amount was seen as insufficient compensation for their hard work, leading to their collective action.
The Center is estimated to have incurred substantial losses, potentially in the lakhs, due to the free passage of vehicles. The Agra-Lucknow Expressway, a vital route connecting Agra and Lucknow, and linking to the National Capital Region, experienced a temporary disruption as the company attempted to deploy staff from other locations to resume toll collection. However, the protesting workers prevented these replacements from taking over.
Police were called to the scene to mediate the situation. Following discussions, toll authorities reportedly agreed to a 10% salary hike for the staff in an effort to resolve the dispute. One of the protesting workers expressed their long-standing grievances, stating that they had not received any bonus for a year and that their salaries were often delayed, highlighting concerns about job security as well.
The protest, which lasted for approximately 10 hours, eventually concluded after the company management assured improvements in working conditions and a salary increase.