Shillong, Nov 29: The Centre for Efficient Governance (CEG) has raised concerns over a significant discrepancy in two separate RTI replies issued by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), PIU Shillong.
The RTI was filed by Rakesh Hazarika, Executive Director of the think tank.
In two different replies, one dated November 1, 2024 (covering Financial Year 2023–24) and another dated September 10, 2025 (covering Calendar Year 2024), the toll revenue for all four toll plazas in Meghalaya—Pahammawlein, Diengpasoh, Pasyih, and Lumshnong—has been shown as exactly the same at Rs 50.36 crore, Rs 22.45 crore, Rs 11.25 crore and Rs 6.20 crore respectively.
According to Hazarika, these figures being identical for two non-identical periods are highly unusual. “The financial year (April 2023–March 2024) and the calendar year (January–December 2024) overlap for only nine months, making identical revenues statistically improbable,” he said.
“I have filed another RTI petition seeking to know the correct toll revenue figures. The identical amounts provided for two separate durations indicate a clear clerical or compilation error on the part of PIU Shillong, and it is necessary to establish the correct data,” he told Highland Post.
Hazarika also noted that such discrepancies are not isolated as similar inconsistencies were witnessed in RTI replies issued by PIU Guwahati regarding the Galia Toll Plaza in Assam. That matter is currently under investigation by the Central Vigilance Commission, he added.
However he noted, “The recurrence of such errors raises questions about the accuracy and reliability of toll revenue reporting by NHAI units,”
As per the latest RTI reply it is also confirmed that no Wayside Amenities (WSA) have been developed by NHAI anywhere in Meghalaya despite toll operations in the state functioning for more than 11 years, with the first toll plaza at Diengpasoh commissioned in 2014.
Hazarika said this appears to be a case of prolonged neglect. “Meghalaya is a tourism-driven state, and the absence of basic facilities for travellers and tourists does not augur well for the state’s overall tourism development, ” he noted.
The CEG has urged NHAI to conduct an internal review of the discrepancies and immediately begin work on establishing properly equipped WSAs across Meghalaya’s national highways.
