‘No toll gates are allowed to be set up on national highways’
Shillong, June 2: The state BJP has made its stand clear on a reported stand-off between the state government and Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) over operating toll gates on national highways, saying “no toll gates are allowed on national highways”.
However, the ruling ally has favoured a dialogue between the government and the ADCs to resolve the issue that has the potential to escalate further.
“The two parties need to settle this issue. But as far as I know, no toll gate is allowed on national highways,” BJP Meghalaya chief spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang on Sunday.
Terming the situation could be the result of “some confusion”, he said, “The district council and the state government will have to meet, resolve the matter, and come to an understanding.”
Earlier, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) had described the situation as a conflict between the revenue requirements of the district councils and the need to comply with the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002.
Reiterating his stand on the issue, Kharkrang said, “As far as my limited knowledge goes, no toll gates are allowed to be set up on national highways except for the ones where we are already paying toll.”
He clarified that while district councils may collect tolls from roads connecting villages to the national highways, such toll gates must be located away from the highways themselves. “National highway guidelines are very clear on this,” he added.
The issue came to a head recently when the Ri-Bhoi District Magistrate ordered the immediate closure of a toll gate that was reportedly operating without obtaining prior permission from the state government.
