GUWAHATI: Days after the Raha toll gate at Nagaon was made operational, the authorities have come under tremendous pressure from almost a dozen pressure groups led KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi to shut down the gate.
Following this, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Nagaon District Administration have decided to shut down the gate for the next 24 hours. On 23rd July the officials of NHAI will meet KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi to discuss the way forward.
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 kms from a municipal or local town area limits. "But the Raha toll gate is located at 2 kms 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).
