Dasna toll tax collectors refuse change for Rs 500 notes

Resumption of toll tax collection on national highways led to chaos at Dasna toll plaza on NH-24 here at Ghaziabad as commuters were refused change for paying the toll tax with Rs 500 notes.

The toll tax collection began on December 2 midnight and as per the RBI guidelines commuters were allowed to use demonetised Rs 500 notes for paying toll tax of Rs 200 or above. However commuters alleged that they were refused change on the pretext of not having sufficient Rs 100 notes.

"The toll tax collectors are demanding Rs 100 currency notes. If somebody pays them with Rs 500 note they are harassing commuters and refusing to return the remaining amount," said Hamid Ali, who was travelling to Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh.

"Most commuters are unaware that old currency notes are not acceptable for the toll of below Rs 200 but they are insisting that Rs 500 notes be accepted for toll tax below the sanctioned amount," said Mohd Arif Khan officer in-charge of NHAI.

The toll tax collectors had not even installed devices for cashless transactions till Saturday evening, alleged another commuter Naushad Ali of Dasna.

The chaos led to long traffic snarls and scuffles between commuters and the toll plaza staff.

--IANS

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