In a rare incident on Sunday night, thousands of vehicles passed through the Fatehabad toll plaza on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway without paying toll charges.
The toll employees reportedly went on strike after being denied their Diwali bonus, forcing them to lift the boom barriers and allow free vehicle movement.
Visuals from the scene showed a continuous flow of vehicles crossing the toll booth without payment, leading to estimated revenue losses worth several lakhs of rupees to the government.
Protest Over Unpaid Diwali Bonus
The employees, working under Shrisai and Datar Company, claimed they were promised a Diwali bonus that was never credited to their accounts.
One protesting worker said, “I have been working for one year but never got my bonus. We work hard, yet our salaries are often delayed. Now the company says it will replace us instead of giving our bonus.”
Several workers said they had received assurances that their bonuses would be paid last week, but no such payment was made, triggering anger and resentment ahead of the festival.
Strike Lasted for 10 Hours
Following the dispute, the protesting employees opened the toll gates and sat in demonstration for nearly 10 hours through the night.
Traffic on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, one of Uttar Pradesh’s busiest highways, moved freely during this period.
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Authorities later intervened and assured payment of bonuses, after which the employees ended their strike.
However, there was no immediate statement from the toll management company at the time of reporting.
The Agra-Lucknow Expressway serves as a vital road corridor connecting the cities of Agra and Lucknow, and further linking to Delhi and the NCR via the Yamuna Expressway.
Sunday night’s incident not only disrupted toll operations but also raised questions about labour rights and payment practices among private toll operators managing national infrastructure.
