Palamu MP Raises Concerns Over NH-39 Toll Collection Amidst Incomplete Construction

Daltonganj: PalamuBJP MP Vishnu Dayal Ram has written a letter to NHAI chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav over the issue of toll tax collection at Jorkat toll plaza on NH-39 under the Bharatmala Project of the Ranchi-Varansi corridor. Since first week of March, locals have been protesting against it claiming that the 4 km road, a part of the project, is still to be constructed.

Ram sent the letter to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) chairman on Friday citing concern and dissatisfaction among commuters over the extraction of toll taxes when the NH-39 is still incomplete. Also, he cited that the connecting road from Medininagar to NH-39 was not built demanding appropriate relief to the commuters. The project officer of NH-39 in Daltonganj, Sudheer Kumar, on the other hand, maintained that around 4 km stretch of NH-39 is awaiting clearance from the forest division. “Due to lack of NOC from the forest division for this particular stretch, no work can be taken up so far,” he said.

The NHAI had defended the toll collection, citing a central gazette notification dated Dec 10, 2025. Kumar said that residents living within a 20-km radius can avail a monthly pass of Rs 340 for private vehicles. He also said an annual FASTag plan of Rs 3,000 allows users to cross toll plazas across India by paying Rs 15 per plaza.