Congress chief slams CM for setting up 18 new toll gates in Assam

Guwahati: 18 new toll gates are likely to be opened in Assam. If 18 new toll gates actually come up, the total number of toll gates in Assam will increase to 27.

It may be mentioned here that out of the 18 new planned toll gates, five are likely to be launched by Durga Puja this year.

There are a total of nine (9) toll gates in Assam currently functioning under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The nine toll gates in Assam that are currently operational are Kokrajhar (Patgaon Toll Gate), Bongaigaon (Dahalpara Toll Gate), Nalbari (Galia Toll Gate), Kamrup (Madaanpur Toll Gate), Nagaon (Raha Toll Gate), Hojai (Mikrrati Gao). Toll Gate), Dima Hasao (Mandardisa Toll Gate), Kamrup-Metro (Nazirakhat Toll Gate) and Cachar (Balacherra Toll Gate).

The news comes amid the ongoing debate over toll tax hike in Assam and the rest of the country, with protests by various organizations continuing.
Earlier this year, the toll tax was increased by at least 10% across the country.

Criticizing the plan to open new toll gates in the state, Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah said “more toll gates will break the back of the common man”.

70% of Assam’s population depends on agriculture and is poor. How will they pay for travel by road only? Bhupen Borah said.
He added: “This government under the leadership of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma does not care about the common people and is only focused on filling their pockets by robbing the common people.”

There are toll gate check points in Assam where passersby have to stop and pay the toll fee to the concerned officials.

Toll tax is collected from toll plazas for the sole purpose of recovering construction and maintenance expenses incurred in the maintenance of toll roads or toll bridges or highways.