Toll booth tyranny! Adivasi Council chief harassed, officials defy regulations

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 8, 2025

In a shocking incident, Ashim Hasda, chairman of the Adivasi Welfare and Development Council, was allegedly harassed at the Patgaon toll gate in Kokrajhar district after he refused to pay the toll for his government vehicle on Friday morning.

Despite the vehicle bearing an Assam government tag, toll gate staff on National Highway 27 at Telipara, along the Assam-West Bengal border, forcefully stopped Hasda’s car and demanded payment. When he refused, citing official exemption, the toll gate personnel allegedly misbehaved with him and issued threats, openly defying government authorities.

Recounting the ordeal, Hasda said, “They questioned my authority and said— ‘Who is Pramod Boro? Who is the CM? Who is a Minister or MLA? We do not follow anybody. Everyone must pay toll at our gate.”

The blatant disregard for state leadership and arrogant defiance of rules highlights a growing menace at toll gates, where operators act with unchecked power.

Faced with threats, Hasda called the police, who rushed to the scene and intervened, ensuring his release from the clutches of the toll gate personnel.

“I was stopped, harassed, and misbehaved with despite a statutory order that clearly states who is liable to pay toll,” Hasda stated, condemning the incident.

The toll gate at Patgaon has long been accused of harassing commuters, with multiple complaints filed against it. Moreover, its establishment within 60 km of another toll gate violates a Supreme Court order, yet authorities have failed to act.

This incident has further exposed the unchecked corruption at toll booths, where innocent people are extorted under the guise of toll collection, while authorities turn a blind eye.

Will the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) finally crack down on these rogue toll gate operators, or will citizens continue to suffer their lawless extortion tactics?