Union Minister and BJP ally Anupriya Patel, who also leads Apna Dal (Soneylal), recently made headlines again with another letter to the UP government. This time, she raised concerns about alleged irregularities and illegal toll collections at a toll plaza on Mirzapur Road. Patel, who is the Member of Parliament from Mirzapur, addressed her concerns directly to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other officials.
The Allegations
In her letter, Patel alleged that there were serious issues with the collection of toll fees on Mirzapur Road. She claimed that money was being collected illegally, causing inconvenience and unfair charges for the commuters. Patel’s persistent advocacy for transparency and fairness in public systems brought this issue to the forefront.
The Government’s Response
UP Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ quickly responded, dismissing Patel’s allegations as baseless. Nandi clarified that there was no unauthorized toll collection happening at the mentioned location. He explained that toll plazas were established at three locations along the Varanasi-Shaktinagar Marg — Fattepur, Lodhi, and Maloghat — all in accordance with prescribed standards.
Addressing Revenue Leakage
Nandi detailed the measures taken to address revenue leakage due to vehicles bypassing the toll plazas. Conditional approval was given for an additional toll booth at Ahraura to ensure toll fees were collected efficiently. He emphasized that toll fees are collected at either Fattepur or Ahraura, not both, aligning with established standards.
Fast Tag System Implementation
Nandi also mentioned that the private developer, M/s ACP Tollways Pvt Ltd (M/s APCO), was instructed to implement a fast tag system at the toll booths. Due to their initial failure to comply, they were directed to ensure the system was installed within a month. Nandi reiterated that the objections raised by Patel were unfounded and baseless.
Previous Concerns Raised by Patel
This isn’t the first time Anupriya Patel has voiced her concerns to the UP government. Earlier on June 27, she wrote to CM Adityanath about the issue of reserved seats for SCs, STs, and OBCs becoming “unreserved” during the recruitment process. The UP government responded, stating that quota posts remaining vacant were not converted to unreserved posts but carried forward to the next recruitment process.
Patel’s Stand on Addressing Grievances
At an Idea Exchange event last week, Patel emphasized the importance of addressing public grievances. She stated, “If people are complaining, it is your responsibility to address the grievances. Flagging concerns happens everywhere, even in autonomous institutions and universities. Today, we are in government. So if something is brought to my notice, I will apprise the chief minister, expecting him to correct anomalies. That’s his responsibility.”
Conclusion
Anupriya Patel’s continued efforts to highlight and address issues reflect her commitment to transparency and fairness. As a public representative, her active engagement in resolving these matters ensures accountability within the system. While the government has refuted her recent allegations regarding toll collections, Patel’s advocacy brings necessary attention to public concerns and governance.