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Daylight robbery
The toll gate charge was a concept to improve and maintain the condition of the national highways and also provide basic amenities like toilets, police patrolling, food courts and vehicle repairing units throughout the highways. It was no doubt a novel idea, as it involves the commuters also in maintaining proper road conditions along with comfort to the commuters, thus saving some government expenditures.
Anyone having the experience of motoring outside Assam should and must appreciate the toll gate concept, as it has served its purposes. Very recently I had the experience of motoring from Chennai to Puducherry, which took three and a half hours, covering a distance of around 170 km. The road was like a runway in an airport with all amenities to commuters. All throughout the said journey I encountered only one toll gate where I had to pay Rs. 70 as a fee for the up-and-down journey. What is it about Assam? I want to cite a very simple example. If you motor to Nalbari from Guwahati, covering a distance of 75 km, you will have to pay Rs. 135 at Changsari Toll Plaza for one way and another Rs 65 if one returns within 24 hours, or else post 24 hours, one has to cough up Rs 135 again. Lesser said the better if one motor from Guwahati to any places in upper Assam. The road conditions and the comfort to commuters are a distant dream, yet the commuters have to pay a sizeable amount in various toll plazas erected by the government. In the coming months there is a possibility of a few more toll gates/plazas decorating our highways.
Is it not daylight robbery?
Dr Ashim Chowdhury,
Guwahati.