Govt mum on money collected at toll plazas, operation tenures

Many questions, regarding the amount collected at toll plazas and their tenures, posed to the Central authorities under the Right To Information (RTI) Act remain unanswered.

Two RTI applications seeking information about the money collected at all 56 toll plazas in Haryana and their operational tenures were filed by Subhash, the state coordinator of Haryana Soochna Adhikar Manch.

However, in response to the RTI applications, the authorities concerned have provided the details of money collected only at four toll plazas located at Panipat Elevated Corridor, Chandimandir, Ghaggar and Gharaunda.

Regarding the amounts collected by the toll companies at other plazas, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) maintained that the information pertained to third parties and could not be disclosed.

The authorities concerned have also not disclosed the dates of closure of operations at five toll plazas, including those at Makrauli, Dahar, Rohad, Dighal and Bhagaan.

The RTI activist had also sought a copy of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's statement in which he had mentioned that having more than one toll plaza within a distance of 60 km was against the norms and that such toll plazas should be immediately removed.

Responding to the RTI application, the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated that no such statement existed in their records. The CPIO clarified that as per rules, an additional toll plaza could be established within a 60-km stretch with the competent authority's approval, if deemed necessary.

Alleging lack of transparency in the provision of information, the RTI activist has demanded a high-level probe into the huge gaps in the expenses incurred on the building and maintenance of roads and the amount earned by the companies allotted the projects.

"Highways constructed on the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis are never truly handed back to the government. Once their stipulated period ends, contracts are renewed in the name of maintenance or expansion, ensuring indefinite toll collection under a never-ending cycle, which calls for a thorough probe," said Subhash.