Chandigarh, Mar 23 (UNI) The General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee Kumari Selja on Sunday accused the Haryana government of always finding a way to take money from the people under some pretext or another.

Selja made the comment in respect of the state government making travelling on national highways in Haryana more expensive from April 1.

She said the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has completed preparations to increase the toll tax. Currently, there are a total of 55 toll tax points on NHAI roads within the state.

According to estimates, there is a possibility of a 4 to 5 percent increase in the existing toll rates at each toll point. On the other hand, toll plazas located within a distance of less than 60 kilometres have not been closed till now, and the government must work in the interest of the common man to make toll rates just and fair.

Selja said there are a total of 55 toll plazas in Haryana. From April 1, new toll rates will come into effect. The Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) issues new toll tenders every year from April 1. This increases the amount and makes toll rates more expensive.

She said that is a lot of arbitrariness regarding tolls, as those toll plazas whose terms have ended are not closed but kept running. "Is the government, in collaboration with private agencies, robbing the public?" she asked.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has assured multiple times in the House that toll plazas located less than 60 kilometres apart will be closed, but this has not happened, she said.

According to information from the ministry, there are seven tolls from Dabwali to Delhi, of which only one toll is 61 kilometres away, while the distance between the others is less than 60 kilometres. Two of these tolls are located just 37 kilometres apart.

She said around Rs 8919 crore was spent on the construction of the Delhi-Jaipur NH-48, but Rs 11,945 crore has already been collected as toll, which is more than the construction cost, and this is wrong. Similarly, Rs 2489 crore was spent on the construction of the Gurgaon-Kotputli NH, and Rs 2727 crore has been collected as toll.

Despite knowing all this, the government is turning a blind eye and benefiting private agencies. The Supreme Court has commented on toll collection, stating that if the highway conditions are not good, why collect tolls?

Selja said the government is adopting a dual policy regarding tolls, and when the cost of highway construction has been recovered, the tolls should be stopped. Furthermore, toll rates are not uniform across states; toll fees are arbitrarily implemented, and in some states like Maharashtra, toll rates are lower compared to others. The government should implement the Supreme Court's comments on tolls.

She said that the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has repeatedly stated in the House that tolls located less than 60 kilometres apart will be closed, but this has not happened yet. With the increase in toll rates, the transport department even raises fares, meaning that every individual is being robbed under the name of tolls. UNI GS SSP