Toll Plaza Tussle: Assault Leads to Arrests and Contract Termination

Five individuals were arrested following an alleged assault on advocate Ratnesh Shukla at Bara toll plaza, leading NHAI to terminate its contract with Skylark Infra Engineering. The incident sparked protests and resulted in the agency facing penalties, including blacklisting and financial repercussions for breach of contractual conditions.

In a dramatic turn of events, authorities have arrested five people, including the toll plaza manager, following an alleged assault on an advocate at the Bara toll plaza. The altercation at the Lucknow-Sultanpur stretch's toll plaza led the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to terminate its fee collection contract with the involved agency.

The incident, which unfolded in Haidergarh tehsil, saw advocate Ratnesh Shukla reportedly attacked by toll employees over a vehicle dispute. This confrontation ignited sizable protests, forcing a temporary shutdown as advocates rallied in solidarity.

Responding to the breach, NHAI has not only ended their contract with Skylark Infra Engineering but also issued a stern show-cause notice. The agency faces a possible one-year tender ban, forfeiture of a 5.3 crore bank guarantee, and has been blacklisted, with toll duties now reassigned to another operator.

(With inputs from agencies.)