Toll Workers Angry Over getting Less Diwali Bonus; Protest on Agra Lucknow Expressway

Toll operations at the Fatehabad plaza on the Agra–Lucknow Expressway came to a halt on Monday after angry workers went on strike over their Diwali bonus. The workers lifted all the barriers, letting thousands of vehicles pass without paying toll for almost 10 hours. The protest started when 21 workers of Shri Sign & Datar Pvt. Ltd., the company managing the toll plaza, received only ₹1,100 as Diwali bonus. Upset over the low amount, the workers stopped work late on Sunday night and opened the toll gates for all vehicles.

“No bonus, no toll!”
Toll workers at Fatehabad plaza on Agra–Lucknow Expressway protest after getting just ₹1,100 as Diwali bonus.
They opened the gates — 5,000+ vehicles passed free!
Protest lasted 10 hours until company promised a 10% salary hike.#WorkersProtest #UPNews… pic.twitter.com/wdz9GUcyhP

— Hellobanker (@Hellobanker_in) October 21, 2025

Thousands of Vehicles Crossed Without Paying

During the protest, around 5,000 vehicles crossed the toll plaza without paying any fee. This caused the government a loss of several lakhs of rupees, according to media reports. The Agra–Lucknow Expressway is one of the main highways in Uttar Pradesh, connecting Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, and NCR. The protest created traffic confusion and forced the police to rush to the spot.

Workers Complain of Delayed Salaries

The protesting workers said that the company does not give bonuses on time and often delays salaries.

“I have been working here for one year but never got any Diwali bonus. They also delay our salaries and now want to replace us instead of solving the issue,” said one of the protesting workers, as quoted by NDTV.

Company Agrees to Salary Hike

Last year, workers employed by a different contractor were given a ₹5,000 bonus, leading to widespread dissatisfaction this time over the reduced amount. As the situation worsened, the company tried to bring in workers from other toll booths to take charge, but the protesters did not allow them. Police then intervened and held talks with both sides. After hours of discussion, the company agreed to improve working conditions and announced a 10% salary hike. The protest finally ended after 10 hours.