The National Highway Authority of India has petitioned the Punjab and Haryana High Court, alleging that the "forcible seizure" of the toll plaza and the subsequent halt in fee collection have resulted in an estimated loss of Rs 113.21 crore to the central exchequer.

The NHAI has requested the Punjab and Haryana High Court to direct the Punjab government and its officials to resume operations at the state's toll plazas. Additionally, the NHAI informed the Bench that repeated encroachments by protesters are causing serious law and order problems.

The NHAI further stated that certain anti-social elements and miscreants, under the guise of protesting, were extorting money from the personnel deployed at the toll plazas. "All these facts were brought to the notice of the district administration and the police authorities. However, no action has been taken to date," it added.

The application, filed by the NHAI through its project director Lichhman Ram, stated that the high court, in its order dated January 12, 2023, had directed Punjab and its DGP to provide adequate security and make safety arrangements "in terms of the state support agreement to safeguard the property of the NHAI so that the trespassers did not take over the remaining toll plazas and normalcy might be restored."

Appearing before Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj’s Bench, NHAI counsel and senior advocate Chetan Mittal submitted the matter after the DGP (Law and Order) filed affidavits dated February 15, 2023, and July 12, 2023. These affidavits stated under oath that directions had been issued to the field units for meticulous compliance with the high court order and that adequate safety and security arrangements would be provided to safeguard the property and toll plazas of NHAI operational in Punjab.

Mittal added that they were left with no other option but to approach the high court to seek redressal of their grievances, as the state and other respondents had failed to act on their representations and complaints.

Mittal further stated that the life and security of the personnel stationed at various toll plazas were under threat due to the ongoing protests. He emphasized that these personnel could not leave their posts unattended due to the assets at the site. "Despite repeated requests, no security has been provided by the district police, posing a serious threat to the personnel's safety at the toll plazas," he added.