Commuters refuse to pay toll, plazas sustain losses | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: In a concerning trend, toll plazas on major roads and highways across the state are experiencing disorderly behaviour from unethical elements, who are allegedly intimidating toll plaza staff members to evade paying the toll fees.
Several individuals allegedly impersonating MLAs and leaders of various political organisations are misusing authority and refusing to pay toll fees, resulting in substantial revenue loss to the exchequer.
The Manguli toll plaza in Cuttack on NH-16, a gateway to the state capital, is experiencing an increasing number of such incidents. According to sources, numerous vehicles are using counterfeit passes to evade toll fees every day.
According to regulations, certain individuals are exempt from paying toll fees. Barring those on the exemption list, all others must pay the toll fee, regardless of being an MLA or any political leader.
“We regularly encounter such individuals. Our senior officials instruct us not to permit anyone through without paying the fee except those on the exemption list, but we are powerless here. Several of them also do not fix the mandatory FashTag,” a toll plaza staff member at Manguli told TOI.
Another toll plaza staff member revealed they face threats of severe consequences from unscrupulous individuals when denying entry through the toll plaza. “It is an extremely precarious situation for us,” he said.
There are approximately 11 major toll plazas under the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) across the state, while the state govt manages about 42 toll gates on state highways and other minor roads in different parts of the state.
The toll fee at state govt-managed gates ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 150, while NHAI controlled toll plaza fees range from Rs 150 to Rs 900 based on vehicle size and trip frequency.
“We have issued directives to toll plaza staff members to remain vigilant. We also issue passes for regular users. We urge everyone to cooperate and adhere to the regulations,” said Veerendra Singh, regional officer, NHAI, Odisha circle.
Data accessed by TOI revealed that at Manguli toll plaza alone, approximately 25,000 vehicles pass through daily with toll collection averaging Rs 22 lakh. Due to evasion practices, the toll plaza loses at least Rs 15 lakh monthly.
“This is absolutely not acceptable. The rules are equal for everyone. The higher authorities should look after it and penalise such violators. Only then, this practice can be controlled,” said social worker Alok Kar.
Several individuals allegedly impersonating MLAs and leaders of various political organisations are misusing authority and refusing to pay toll fees, resulting in substantial revenue loss to the exchequer.
The Manguli toll plaza in Cuttack on NH-16, a gateway to the state capital, is experiencing an increasing number of such incidents. According to sources, numerous vehicles are using counterfeit passes to evade toll fees every day.
According to regulations, certain individuals are exempt from paying toll fees. Barring those on the exemption list, all others must pay the toll fee, regardless of being an MLA or any political leader.
“We regularly encounter such individuals. Our senior officials instruct us not to permit anyone through without paying the fee except those on the exemption list, but we are powerless here. Several of them also do not fix the mandatory FashTag,” a toll plaza staff member at Manguli told TOI.
Another toll plaza staff member revealed they face threats of severe consequences from unscrupulous individuals when denying entry through the toll plaza. “It is an extremely precarious situation for us,” he said.
There are approximately 11 major toll plazas under the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) across the state, while the state govt manages about 42 toll gates on state highways and other minor roads in different parts of the state.
The toll fee at state govt-managed gates ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 150, while NHAI controlled toll plaza fees range from Rs 150 to Rs 900 based on vehicle size and trip frequency.
“We have issued directives to toll plaza staff members to remain vigilant. We also issue passes for regular users. We urge everyone to cooperate and adhere to the regulations,” said Veerendra Singh, regional officer, NHAI, Odisha circle.
Data accessed by TOI revealed that at Manguli toll plaza alone, approximately 25,000 vehicles pass through daily with toll collection averaging Rs 22 lakh. Due to evasion practices, the toll plaza loses at least Rs 15 lakh monthly.
“This is absolutely not acceptable. The rules are equal for everyone. The higher authorities should look after it and penalise such violators. Only then, this practice can be controlled,” said social worker Alok Kar.
