RAJKOT: While Union minister Nitin Gadkari had assured the parliament in March this year that there will no two toll plazas with 60km distance, Gujarat has 15 that breaches this rule.
Even though the Union minister had then stated that he will ensure shutting one down within three months, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) admitted that there are 175 toll plazas across the country within distance of 60 kilometres .
In fact, the lowest distance found in Gujarat between two toll plazas is just 21km between Nadiad and Anand!
This was learnt from a reply of a RTI application filed by Rajkot-based RTI activist Shailendrasinh Jadeja.
The NHAI said that fee plazas within distance of 60 km are permitted under sub rule 2 of rule 8 of NH fee rules 2008 and fee rules 1997.
After three months of Gadkari’s statement to the parliament, Jadeja had filed an RTI application with the NHAI seeking information regarding how many toll plazas exist within 60kmS distance, what are the procedures to shut these plazas down as per the minister’s statement and how much amount had been collected in these plazas.
Jadeja, however, did not get reply from NHAI within the stipulated time.
He filed a second appeal with central information commission (CIC) and received a list of toll plazas located within 60km distance but did not get a reply on the total collection made in these.
In a letter he wrote to minister Gadikari last week, Jadeja attached the RTI reply and asked: “This RTI reply shows that the assurance given to the citizens has not been implemented by the office under your control. This is a betrayal of the people.”
Even though the Union minister had then stated that he will ensure shutting one down within three months, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) admitted that there are 175 toll plazas across the country within distance of 60 kilometres .
In fact, the lowest distance found in Gujarat between two toll plazas is just 21km between Nadiad and Anand!
This was learnt from a reply of a RTI application filed by Rajkot-based RTI activist Shailendrasinh Jadeja.
The NHAI said that fee plazas within distance of 60 km are permitted under sub rule 2 of rule 8 of NH fee rules 2008 and fee rules 1997.
After three months of Gadkari’s statement to the parliament, Jadeja had filed an RTI application with the NHAI seeking information regarding how many toll plazas exist within 60kmS distance, what are the procedures to shut these plazas down as per the minister’s statement and how much amount had been collected in these plazas.
Jadeja, however, did not get reply from NHAI within the stipulated time.
He filed a second appeal with central information commission (CIC) and received a list of toll plazas located within 60km distance but did not get a reply on the total collection made in these.
In a letter he wrote to minister Gadikari last week, Jadeja attached the RTI reply and asked: “This RTI reply shows that the assurance given to the citizens has not been implemented by the office under your control. This is a betrayal of the people.”
