Rajkot: A wave of public outrage swept across the Rajkot-Jetpur six-lane highway on Monday, as frustrated citizens staged a massive protest, bringing traffic to a grinding halt. The demonstrators, led by the Highway Rights Committee, demanded an immediate halt to toll collection on the incomplete and hazardous highway, rallying under the powerful slogan: “No Road, No Toll.”
The protest was not just about potholes or delays, it was a boiling point after months of daily traffic nightmares, near-fatal accidents, and what locals describe as “official apathy in the face of rising chaos.” Construction on the highway has dragged on for over a year, leaving large sections in disrepair. Despite multiple inspections and public statements from district officials, commuters continue to face hours-long gridlocks and dangerously poor road conditions.
Over the past three days, severe traffic jams stretching for kilometers have paralyzed the Rajkot-Gondal stretch, amplifying the call for action. “We’re not just angry — we’re exhausted,” said one protester. “Every day we risk our lives and pay for it. If the road isn’t ready, the toll isn’t justified.”
On Sunday morning, protesters blocked key sections of the highway and later marched to the Rajkot District Collector’s office. Large posters of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were held up as symbolic targets of public disappointment.
Fifteen protest leaders were detained by local police near Aji Dam, but organizers say the movement will only grow stronger. “We’re done with empty meetings and broken promises,” said a committee member. “This protest is the voice of every commuter who’s been stuck for hours, injured in accidents, or forced to pay for a road that doesn’t exist.”
The protest has gained traction among political leaders, with several senior Congress figures, including MLAs Jignesh Mevani, Lalji Desai, and Pal Ambaliya, joining demonstrators in Rajkot. Congress spokesperson Rohitsinh Rajput cited a recent incident where Shivraj Singh Chouhan himself faced difficulties on the same highway during a visit to Gujarat and publicly criticized its condition. “If leaders from outside the state can see the mess, why are our own silent?” Rajput asked, calling for greater accountability from local MPs and ministers who use the route daily.
At the heart of the protest is a simple demand: suspend toll collection until the highway is fully constructed and safe. Protesters also criticized a recent decision to offer a 25% toll discount as a “lollipop” that fails to address the larger issue, illegal toll collection on a dysfunctional highway.
“If the government can stop tolls on other failing routes like the Jamnagar-Amritsar corridor, why not here?” asked a protest leader. “Rajkot-Jetpur may be the worst highway in Gujarat today, and yet we’re being charged for it. It’s not just unjust — it’s outrageous.”
With no clear response yet from the National Highways Authority or local administration, the committee has vowed to continue protests and intensify pressure until their demands are met.
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