The Hindu : National : NHAI move may affect ex-servicemen

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Friday, Jun 25, 2010
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National

NHAI move may affect ex-servicemen

K.Balchand

NEW DELHI : The decision of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to hand over all the toll plazas on major highways to private contractors threatens to render about 35,000 ex-servicemen, who earn a living by running them, jobless. The ex-servicemen have taken objection to the notification issued by the National Highways Authority of India(NHAI) on Monday deciding to invite tenders for the toll plazas which are currently being operated by retired army personnel who have been employed through Director General of Rehabilitations, Government of India.

A delegation of ex-servicemen led by Col. (Retd.) H.S.Yadav and Col.(Retd) Chaudhary complained to Defence Minister A.K.Antony about the injustice meted out to them by the MORTH. They pointed out that the action violates the commitment the Congress party contained in its manifesto of 2004 and 2009 to rehabilitate ex-army personnel on their retirement.

The ex-servicemen said that Mr. Antony promised to take up the matter with Minister of Roads Transport and Highways Kamal Nath.

They charged that this action would render 25000 ex-servicemen and about 10000 others who are indirectly employed in various logistics for running these toll plazas, jobless. These retired army personnel claimed that revenue has increased at the toll plazas from 15 per cent to 85 per cent. Besides, their presence helped road users in several ways.

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