On Monday, thousands of vehicles reportedly passed through the Agra–Lucknow Expressway at Fatehabad, Uttar Pradesh, without paying tolls. The unusual situation arose when toll plaza workers opened all the gates in protest, according to The Times of India.
The unexpected unrest led to major traffic disruptions, prompting the police to rush to the scene to manage the flow and ensure safety.
Around 21 employees at the Fatehabad toll plaza, run by Shri Sign & Datar Company, staged the protest after receiving just Rs 1,100 as their Diwali bonus. The workers felt this amount was unreasonably low, especially considering the toll’s earnings in recent months, reported India Today.
As Dhanteras traffic piled up around 10 pm on October 19, all lanes at the plaza were suddenly cleared when the staff lifted the boom barriers and walked off duty. An estimated 5,000 vehicles passed through without paying, a move the employees described as a protest against “inadequate festival incentives.”
Watch the video:
🚨 SHOCKER! Angry over just ₹1,100 Diwali bonus, toll staff at the Agra–Lucknow Expressway LIFTED all BARRIERS — thousands of vehicles sped through without PAYING toll 🤯 pic.twitter.com/BS2elFfu8Q
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) October 21, 2025
The incident quickly went viral on social media. Commenters had varied reactions: one wrote, “That is a Japanese style protest lol. This is better than closing it down permanently until demands are met.” Another remarked, “Bro Infosys and TCS don’t pay that much bonus to their employees,” while a third argued, “These employees should be sacked immediately… The loss should be recovered from the employees.”
The company explained that having taken over the toll plaza only recently, it was not obligated to pay a full-year bonus. The workers, however, strongly disagreed. “Last year we got Rs 5,000,” one said. “This year we got a justification.” Another user said, “We work 12-hour shifts inhaling diesel and dealing with irate drivers. We’re not asking for gold coins. Just something that doesn’t feel like small change.”
Initially, management attempted to bring in staff from nearby tolls, but reinforcements were turned away. Police arrived around 11 pm and assessed the situation, deciding it didn’t warrant any FIR. Fatehabad SHO Dharmendra Kumar said, “There was no law and order problem. They opened the gates. No one was hurt. It was a protest, not a crime.”
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By midnight, tensions eased after senior officials promised a 10 per cent salary hike. The boom barriers were lowered, operations resumed, and the plaza returned to normal.
