After finding anomalies in the toll rate charged for trucks on the national highway (NH-2) stretch (Gurgaon-Faridabad-Agra), which is managed by Reliance Infrastructure, an association of transporters have approached the ministry of road highways and transport and the Haryana government against the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). The truckers body wants both the Centre and the state to intervene and have a second look at the toll charges cleared by the NHAI for this stretch.
The transporters? body also wants the local administration to punish those owners whose trucks carry excess load, thus damaging the highway.
The Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training (IFTRT), a transporters lobby, has written to road minister CP Joshi and Haryana chief minister BS Hooda against NHAI?s tolling policy allowing the concessionaire to collect toll on a two-lane stretch even before it is upgraded into a six-lane highway. The IFTRT said: ?In case of NH-2, the concessionaire should be stopped from collecting revised upward toll till the six laning from the present four lane is completed. The toll policy should not be dictated by the powerful road developers/truckers? unions.?
The matter pertains to the 33-kilometre stretch on the Gurgaon- Faridabad road which is being managed by Reliance Infrastructure.
According to IFTRT coordinator SP Singh several truck operators run their goods carriages by carrying construction material which is much above the legally prescribed weight limit. ?The enforcement authorities hardly punish these powerful transporters under section 113 and 114 of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for illegal overloading of trucks. And this is happening despite a Supreme Court order which curbs overloading of trucks as they damage roads, jeopardise road safety and cause air pollution,? Singh said.
In the letter, IFTRT said certain truck association are refusing to pay toll charges on one pretext or the other. ?The tolling of highways by the Centre and the state governments and their agencies are facing criticism from all quarters for being unfair and discriminatory,? IFTRT added.
