Truck owners and drivers have urged leader of opposition, Ronnie V Lyngdoh to take up the issue of illegal toll gates erected along the national highway and state roads during the ongoing autumn session of the assembly.
Chief Adviser of the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners & Drivers Association, Joannes JTL Lamare in a letter to Lyngdoh said that as per the order of the Ministry of Road transport and Highways dated June 26, 2020 that check gates which obstructs traffic flow and cause inconvenience to road users are not allowed.
Lamare said that the order is clear that operation of toll/check gates along the national highways and state roads is and questioned how the state government does not follow it.
On the recent response of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, CEM Pyniaid Sing Syiem that toll gates were installed as per provisions of the Sixth Schedule and that the one shut by district authorities in Umdihar was leased out to a private party, Lamare maintained that the association stand by the directive issued by the ministry.
“The district council may have their views but we stand by the order of the central ministry that is applicable to the entire nation,” he told Highland Post today.
Syiem had recently stated that toll gates of the district council have been in operation for several years and claimed that a high level committee headed by the Chief Minister had decided that the toll gates can be raised as per the Sixth Schedule, in places where they don’t cause traffic inconveniences.
Toll gates run by District Councils are illegal since the State government had last year directed all District Councils to close down their toll gates along national highways and State roads.
However, the direction by the State government has never been implemented and these toll gates are still operating much to the suffering of the common man due to the resulting effect of price rise.
In Ri-Bhoi, there are toll gates that are actively operating in Bhoirymbong, Lad Umroi and at Iew Mawroh in Jirang and Umling.
In East Khasi Hills, several toll gates are present along the Shillong By-Pass at Mawryngkneng, Mawkhanu, Thangshalai, Mawlai Mawiong (Near ISBT) and Mawiong Rim.
In West Khasi Hills, it was informed that a toll gate was operating at Mawshynrut. In West Jaintia Hills, a toll gate can be found at Jowai By-Pass.
