In case toll plaza has to have no cessation period then why not NHAI run the same with government staff?

DAYA SAGAR
The GoI / as well as the state governments already collect taxes / levies like Toll Tax for use of Highways/ Bridges / Tunnels from the common man in direct or indirect manners. In a democratic / social republic the use of the levies / taxes collected has to be for common cause to be consumed with high money use efficiency and not even with policies like keeping official government vehicles exempted from paying at toll plazas. Why should government departments also pay at Toll Plazas out of their allocated grants which will also reveal the unofficial use of government vehicles. No doubt in very exceptional cases a particular project specific taxes & duties could be additionally levied but that too should not appear over burdening the common man. Such exceptional compulsive levies in some cases could too be for payment of foreign / local loans a government / government owned body may raise to create special unavoidable greater socio-economic interest provisions beyond the capacity of State exchequer. But such levies too are required to be removed or reduced with the passage of time looking at the costs recovered. After cost are recovered only left over liability could be maintenance and that would be only a portion of initial fee as fixed. But it appears from the policies being followed on ground that the right course is not being followed. To quote Ministry of Road Transport and Highways w.e.f 01-04-2019 ( 0800 Hrs ) on Jammu Udhampur Section of NH44 ( earlier NH 1A) Toll plaza located near village Ban in Jammu District increased the one way toll on Cars/ Vans /Jeep or LMV from Rs. 85 ( in 2015) to Rs.135. Whereas over the period with the better efficiency / “claimed checks on corrupt activities” / increase in the number of vehicles the rates should have been even reduced. But the process goes unchanged in policy.
Going by the present style of working of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways GOI levy of ‘fee’ for use of highway appears to be becoming a regular / permanent feature with no cessation period (which should also be subject to civic society review) linked with recovery of cost.
Where ever collection of Toll Tax is made through a Service Agency / Contractor the rates and the policies for concession depending upon nature of journey are decided by the Government / NHAI/ Ministry of Road Transport and Highways or may be in some cases by State Government but at occasions often unnecessary disputes arise between the ‘service provider’ (Contractor) and Commuters. Government policies must be communicated in clear and simple manner to the users so that the contractors also do not at occasions face undue public wrath.
So in addition tolaying a fair policy & basis for setting a Toll Plaza and ‘Fee’ to be paid by commuters for using the facility Government / Ministry concerned/ NHAI , as the case maybe, may have to have the review of (A) The National Highways Act, 1956 Act and (B)The National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 ( as amended from time to time) keeping in view also the references like (1).In case all the new highways / bridges/ Tunnels and even the already laid roads when improved are to be thrown open for use of commuters only on payment of fee not linked with full cost recovery then why manage the Toll Plaza through a Contractor , why not NHAI / State Authority run the same with NHAI or government staff ? (2) is system of Toll Plaza Contractor for government funded Highways / Roads/ Bridges/ Tunnels unavoidable ?(3) should not only privately funded projects be operated by private parties and that too under government supervision ? (4) should not all staff posted at toll plazas presently / future must be only after proper verification (5) should not duty staff appointed by the contractors must bear with zero tolerance the Identity Badges on uniform ? (6) should not the toll plaza fee must be linked with the exit point distance before the other next Plaza (7) the national Highways where there is no alternative conventional road retained for the commuters ( from areas around ) they must have toll fee rate less than the Highways constructed on new alignments (8) Government must make public the names of toll plazas where first cost has been nearly recovered but Plaza is still there not and that too not with a reasonably maintenance ‘fee’ (9) No vehicle should be exempted except Defence forces and Para M forces and movement fee not paid on spot must be taken as recovery of cost while determining the fee . The other government vehicles must pay the fee on spot so that also gets accounted towards revenue recovered while working the fee for private commuters . Ofcourse this will also help in checking misuse of official vehicles.(10) Should not it be enforced with zero tolerance that at nowhere extra fee is collected in case someone returns within 12 Hours to the Toll Plaza concerned.
(The writer is is a Sr Journalist & analyst of J&K Affairs)