To obtain an official BKU ID card, a farmer typically must be registered with the union.

The Bhartiya Kisan Union has done commendable work for Punjab's agrarian community. Their ID card is a badge of solidarity and a tool for collective bargaining. Respect the law, pay your tolls legally, and use your union membership for its intended purpose: uplifting Indian agriculture.

Many union members reside within the 20-kilometer zone of toll plazas. Their free or discounted passage is legally tied to their residential status, though it is frequently conflated with their union affiliation. The Role of FASTag and Electronic Tolling

The leader of the group, a seasoned farmer named Sardarji, had had enough. He decided that it was time to take matters into their own hands and approached the authorities with a demand - to provide free toll passes to all farmers in the state. After several rounds of negotiations, the authorities finally agreed to consider their demand.

For those genuinely interested in securing an official identity as a farmer, the Government of India has launched a massive mission to provide , also known as the Kisan Pehchaan Patra .

The Reality of BKU ID Cards and Toll-Free Access in Punjab In recent months, there has been significant discussion regarding the use of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) identity cards to gain toll-free passage across Punjab

For instance, in October 2024, the BKU Ekta Ugrahan announced it would free all toll plazas in Punjab to protest against the "improper purchase of paddy". Similarly, in June 2024, the Ladhowal toll plaza, one of the most expensive in Punjab, was made toll-free by protesting farmers against a hike in toll charges. These actions have inadvertently created a situation where many commuters believe that simply being associated with a farmer’s union grants them a free pass.

Exemptions are typically reserved for specific high-ranking government officials, emergency vehicles, and military personnel. Union IDs: Neither the BKU nor other major bodies like the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) have legal authority to issue IDs for toll-free passage.

: Major unions like the KMSC have explicitly stated they do not issue ID cards for toll-free passage. They have warned the public against using counterfeit cards, which are often sold by third parties to help individuals evade fees illegally.

Do not fall for YouTube videos selling "toll exemption secrets." Pay your FASTag bill. It saves you from heavy fines, police confrontation, and damage to your vehicle. True support for farmers comes from advocating for policy change, not breaking the law at a toll booth.

While the Bhartiya Kisan Union remains a powerful institutional voice for farmers in Punjab, its identity cards are meant for internal organizational membership. They do not serve as a legal substitute for official toll payments or FASTag compliance on national and state highways.