Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh wants separate lanes for MPs and MLAs

At a time when Prime Ministers himself is against any kind of VIP treatment to parliamentarians, his party, which rules Uttar Pradesh has a different call to take. The UP government has ordered for separate lanes for MLAs and MPs at toll plazas across the state, including national highways.

Additional chief secretary Sadakant has written to district magistrates across UP dated July 15, as per rules notified by the Centre, no road toll would be charged from any MLA or MLC of the UP assembly, or MPs from the state.

"All district magistrates will ensure that toll plazas under their jurisdiction will provide a separate lane to MPs and MLAs in the event of traffic jams," the letter said, also saying that authorities of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are expected to cooperate in the matter.

An additional district magistrate said on condition of anonymity told TOI, "Legislators and parliamentarians hardly move without four to five vehicles when they go to Lucknow or Delhi, if they travel on national and state highways where the toll plazas are erected. Though they are already exempted from paying toll tax, when plaza employees ask the unofficial vehicles accompanying them to pay up, these 'honourable' MLAs or MPs and their followers turn rude, sometimes violent. In such cases, the law and order situation is also affected."