Now, FKJGP objects to tollgate functioning

SHILLONG: A day after KSU withdrew their opposition to the inauguration of a tollgate which began functioning at 20mer on National Highway 6 (earlier NH 40) in Ri Bhoi on Thursday, a group of FKJGP members on Thursday allegedly tried to prevent collection of toll at the tollgate on the Umiam-Jorabat Expressway.
Police informed that around 20- 30 FKJGP members went to the toll plaza and demanded that the toll collection should be stopped since NHAI had not obtained No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the local village Dorbar.
Later, the pressure group held a meeting with NHAI official to sort out the issues.
The pressure group also demanded that the toll collection should be stopped since neither the Umsning By-pass was ready nor was the existing road through Umsning being repaired.
Police also informed that on Tuesday night, some miscreants had pelted stones at the toll plaza and in this connection the Ri Bhoi district police chief has been directed to nab the culprits involved in pelting stones at the toll plaza.
Meanwhile, sources from NHAI on Thursday said the existing Umsning road will be maintained by the NHAI to the best of its capability and added that work for the Umsning By-pass was delayed since the NHAI had got the land very late.
Reacting to a query, sources said there is no need for NHAI to obtain NOC from local Dorbar since this was a Central government project and the Centre and the State had signed MoU to this effect.
“NHAI is here in Meghalaya to help the people and we are not their enemies,” the sources said, adding that the local police was also washing its hand off the entire incident saying that they cannot do anything on the matter.
It may be mentioned that, earlier the KSU had opposed the proposed inauguration of the tollgate at 20mer considering the fact that the Umiam-Jorabat Expressway was incomplete, especially the Umsning By-pass, but the Union withdrew its opposition on Tuesday after the NHAI agreed to meet all the demands made by the Union.
Meanwhile, in a related development, members of the KSU North Khasi Hill District met officials of Sahakar Global Limited, the company supervising the toll gates at 20mer, to place the demand for employment opportunities for local youths at the toll plaza.
Later, the KSU unit informed that the company officials have agreed to their demand.
The company has informed that vehicles going daily from Umdihar till the toll gate and those coming from Khanapara till the toll gate will have to pay Rs 230 per month for which the vehicle owners have to submit copies of the Registration Certificate (RC) and identity proof at the toll gate and obtain an identity card from the company.