Citizen demands shutting down of NHAI’s toll gate due to deplorable condition of NH-6

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 15, 2019

SHILLONG: A concerned resident of a village in East Jaintia Hills has demanded the immediate shutting down of a toll gate erected by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for its failure to repair the dilapidated National Highway-6 from Jowai to Malidor. 

In a petition to deputy commissioner of East Jaintia Hills District, Kynjaimon Amse said, “With the present condition of the road, NHAI has no right to continue collecting toll at its Lumshnong toll gate and hence I demand that the toll gate at Lumshnong be shut down immediately until the NHAI and GRIL takes corrective measures to repair the damaged road in the best interest of the public. The NHAI should ensure that the road is in good and motorable condition throughout the year without which no toll should be collected from the people.” 

He said the NHAI had spent crores of rupees to construct and improved the NH-6 from Jowai-Malidor but the present condition of the road with big potholes is really a sad state of affair and a matter of great concern which should be resolve expeditiously. 

Stating that the highway presently is in a very bad condition with big potholes everywhere, Amse said, “The potholes along the highway and the bad condition of the road is an evident proof of the poor quality of work done by the GRIL in construction of the NH-6 and this has caused great disadvantages to the public at large.”

Because of the big potholes along the highway, many vehicles both light and heavy have broken down and this has caused great financial loss to the people. Further, it has also delayed the easy movement of commuters through the road and has caused many accidents. 

“But, inspite of the bad and pathetic condition of the highway, the toll collection by NHAI through its agent never stops to operate. This toll gate at Lumshnong collects lakhs of rupees from vehicle plying through the road daily but yet it fails to maintain the road in a proper and adequate manner. The NHAI and GRIL have thus failed in its duty to look after the proper condition of the road for which it has been entrusted,” he said. 

Further terming the highway as a killer highway, as it has become a threat to the safety of the people, Amse further demanded that the DC to direct the NHAI and GRIL authorities to undertake repair work throughout the highway and fill all the potholes and to ensure that the road is in good condition which can serve the interest of the public at large and until then the Lumshnong Toll Gate should be closed down immediately as he reiterated that “No toll should be collected without good quality road”.