Centre should put in place transparent toll policy:IFTRT

Cautioning that simmering discontent and violence over toll tax in some states may spill to rest of the country, Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training (IFTRT) has urged the Centre to convene a meeting to put in place a transparent toll system.
"The IFTRT urges upon the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to convene a national level meeting of state governments, funding agencies, road developers ... Experts and interested groups to discuss and resolve the issues before the very concept of toll as a instrument of road development becomes infructuous and redundant," it said in a statement.

The Maharashtra, UP and Haryana violence must be taken seriously rather than wishing them away as local law and order issues, it said in a letter to Secretary, MoRTH.
It cautioned that centre and state governments are failing to read 'writing on the wall' as such agitations may expand into the entire country and said there is a "need to bring transparency and fair play in managing and tolling highways."
Demanding introduction of a transparent policy, it said the system of putting up toll plazas right at the entry / exit point of a city is resulting in long queues and waste of time while collection at several places on National Highways are perceived to be indulgence in overcharging and not providing committed services on the stretches.

Coordinator of IFTRT, S P Singh, said, "Ever since, the Centre in late 90s started the construction of Golden Quadrilateral and later East -West and North-South Corridors, the IFTRT had suggested the new national highway network must have electronic TOLL collection system instead of having barriers at toll plazas."
He also stressed the need for setting up weighing machines in order to curb the mass movement of overloaded trucks.
At the same time, he said, the National Highways must have a usable system of service roads and under-passes so that local traffic does not get into the free flow of highway traffic.