The District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills today warned of strict action against unauthorised toll gates in the district.
Although toll gates operated by the district council have been banned by the state government along highways, some continue to persist with their operations. Although they are ostensibly to tax forest produce and the like, their operation has been farmed out to private players and truckers have repeatedly complained that they are stopped at numerous toll gates along the same route and are effectively extorted.
Further, the District Magistrate said in a press release that the installation of such tollgates obstructs “seamless traffic flow”, creates inconvenience to road users and is also hazardous and may cause road accidents.
In order to prevent leakage of public revenue, the District Magistrate has “strongly” prohibited the operation of unauthorised toll gates and check gates and “any form of forcible collection along the national highways, state highways and major district roads of East Khasi Hills.”
