BRS questions discrimination in Congress govt’s toll exemption policy

BRS Council Whip Deshapati Srinivas criticised the Congress government for exempting toll fees for Andhra Pradesh-bound travellers during Sankranthi while denying similar relief to Telangana residents during State festivals, alleging discrimination and misuse of public funds.

Hyderabad: BRS Council Whip and MLC Deshapati Srinivas found fault with the Congress government’s decision to exempt toll for people heading to native places in Andhra Pradesh during the Sankranthi festival, accusing it of double standards and discriminatory treatment. Stating that extending facilities to people from neighbouring States was not objectionable, he said denying similar relief to Telangana residents was unjustified.

While welcoming the decision in the Council on Monday, he sought to know why similar relief was never extended to people of Telangana during major State festivals like Dasara and Bathukamma. He demanded that the government immediately announce toll exemptions at all toll plazas across Telangana for the upcoming festivals.

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The MLC questioned reasons behind Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy writing to the Centre seeking toll exemption even at the Chillakallu toll plaza in Andhra Pradesh. He questioned whether the Telangana government would bear the cost of exemptions at toll gates located outside the State, calling it an inappropriate use of Telangana’s public funds.

Srinivas also pointed out that the exemption was limited to the Vijayawada route, while no relief was provided to travellers using the Rayalaseema routes towards Kurnool and Anantapur, despite heavy traffic on those corridors as well. He asked why the government was prioritising one route over others.
Recalling severe congestion during Bathukamma and Dasara, Srinivas said lakhs of people travelling from Hyderabad to their native villages faced hours-long delays at toll plazas, yet no exemptions were considered then. He questioned whether Telangana’s festivals were being accorded lesser importance.