- By Priyanka Koul
- Tue, 21 Oct 2025 01:57 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Agra-Lucknow Expressway: In a rare turn of events on Sunday, toll gates at the Fatehabad plaza on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway were left open, allowing thousands of vehicles to pass without paying any toll. The reason? Toll workers went on strike after being denied a Diwali bonus.
The protest, which caught many commuters by surprise, led to the boom barriers being lifted, resulting in a complete halt in toll collection for nearly 10 hours. This sudden free passage is estimated to have caused a significant financial blow, reportedly running into several lakhs of rupees in lost revenue for the Union Government.
The Agra-Lucknow Expressway is one of Uttar Pradesh's busiest highways, offering a direct route between two major cities and further connecting to Delhi via the Yamuna Expressway. Sunday’s toll-free movement on such a key route marked an unusual protest, with visuals from the site showing uninterrupted vehicle flow as staff vacated their posts.
"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 told NDTV.
The toll workers, employed by Shrisai and Datar Company, said they were promised Diwali bonuses last week. However, when no payments were made, their frustration spilled over into direct action.
Many staff members claimed they had waited patiently for the promised bonus to reflect in their bank accounts, but after repeated delays and no communication from the management, they decided to take matters into their own hands.
On Sunday night, they opened the toll gates and began a sit-in protest right at the booth, demanding their rightful dues. The sit-in continued for 10 hours and was lifted following assurance of a bonus from the officials.