KHADC ignores govt’s order to shut toll gates

SHILLONG, July 9: Notwithstanding the authorities and the litany of dictums, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) continues to ignore the state government’s order to close its toll gates.
They exist along the national highways and the Council continues to charge toll from truckers. There are, however, signboards that say the toll gates operated by the Council have been removed.
Journalists from The Shillong Times travelled a few kilometres on the Shillong Bypass on Saturday. They saw two such toll gates operating on both sides of the road.
The trucks stop at the toll gates for payment of toll. The Shillong Times accessed the receipts dated 9.7.2022 that were issued by the KHADC. The truck drivers were charged Rs 200-400 at each toll gate.
One of the receipts reads, “Received from vehicle no…. being toll fee collection of entry of non-tribal trader vehicles.” Another reads, “Being toll fee for collection of entry of goods and entry of vehicles.”
Some drivers, on the condition of anonymity, said that they need to pay around Rs 3,500 at different toll gates operating along the Bypass during a single journey. Asked if there are 6-7 toll gates operating on the road, they said it is much more than that.
The KHADC has been assuring since last year that these toll gates would be closed down.
Last month, the state government had directed the KHADC as well as the JHADC to close down their toll gates along the national highways. KHADC Chief Executive Member Titosstarwell Chyne had said the Council is working out a plan to close them down. He had agreed in principle that the Council will not set up any toll gate along the national highways.
He had admitted that the district councils do not have the authority to set up toll gates on the national highways but added that it has been a practice for years.
Recently, the Congress had confronted the United Democratic Party-led Executive Committee of the KHADC over the presence of the illegal check gates and patrolling posts.