Toll collectors flee after BJP MLA confronts them

Collectors at a toll plaza here fled after BJP MLA Dalbeer Singh raised questions about their legality on Sunday, allowing hundreds of vehicles to pass through for two hours without paying any money. Officials later said the toll bridge was legal.

The toll plaza, which sports the name of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), is located at Dasna on National Highway 24 in Ghaziabad district, about 25 km from Delhi.

Dalbeer Singh, the BJP MLA from Baroli in Aligarh, earlier alleged that money was being collected illegally since the validity of the toll plaza had expired.

Singh told IANS that he was passing through the plaza on Sunday noon.

"As I told the toll collector that the validity of this point has expired, the men first asked about my credentials. They ran away after knowing I am the MLA from Baroli."

He said he stayed there for about two hours, during which time the toll plaza remained unattended and vehicles passed freely.

"After that I spoke to the District Magistrate and asked her to file a FIR against the illegal toll collectors who are defaming our government. She assured me she would enquire from the state and act accordingly," he said.

But Sub Divisional Magistrate Prem Ranjan Singh later said the Dasna toll plaza was valid. He said the untrained staff might have fled when the MLA raised questions.

--IANS

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