NHAI suspends Raha toll gate for 24 hrs; to talk with KMSS

The Nagaon District Administration and the National Highway Authority of India today decided to suspend the toll gate on NH-37 at Raha following protests by Akhil Gogoi-led KMSS and half a dozen other organistaions.

"The protesters cited a rile regarding setting up of a toll gate on highways and claimed that the Raha toll gate is illegal. We have requested the NHAI and protesters to settle the issue through discussion," Nagaon Additional Deputy Commissioner Lachit Das told PTI.

Accordingly, the NHAI has decided to suspend toll collection from the gate for the next 24 hours, he added.

Gogoi pointed out that all toll gates across the country are set up as per the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, which says a toll plaza can be established beyond a distance of 10 kilometres from a municipal or local town area limits.

"But the Raha toll gate is located at two kilometres from the main town. In fact, the gate falls at the Ward No 7 of the Raha town committee. So, it is an illegal structure by rules of the NHAI itself," he added.

The Raha toll gate was opened in 2015, but could run only for three days as NHAI had to shut it down due to protests from Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS).

It was reopened on July 12 this year, evoking strong protests from all quarters and political parties barring the ruling BJP and AGP.

Earlier during the day, Gogoi-led thousands of protesters marched toward the toll gate from Raha town, but were stopped by the district administration before about 100 metres of the toll plaza.

Apart from KMSS, supporters of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP), All Tai-Ahom Students' Union and All Koch-Rajbongshi Students' Union (AKRSU) among others took part in the protest demanding closure of the toll gate.

Officials said all to and fro vehicles on the NH-37 were diverted from Raha through the Bebejia-Barapujia-Dharamtul road, which is in a very bad condition.