Ripun Bora addresses the news conference in Guwahati. Picture by Manash Das

Guwahati: Assam PCC president Ripun Bora has written to Union minister of road, transport and highways Nitin Gadkari, urging him to remove the Raha toll gate in central Assam’s Nagaon district till all amenities are provided to the customers on the highway as per the norms of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Bora said the toll rate of Raha is “exorbitant” in comparison to other states and requested Gadkari to revise it.

On July 12, the NHAI reopened the Raha toll gate, which was closed in 2014 after protesters demolished infrastructure, demanding its closure. Organisations like the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti have been demanding its closure, arguing that it is unfair to force people to pay toll while there is no other road connecting Upper Assam with Guwahati.

Bora said opening of the Raha toll gate was “ill-timed”.

“In Madhya Pradesh, a small car pays Rs 75 as toll for travelling 584 kilometres on a highway. The rate is Rs 75 in Bengal for 646 kilometres, Rs 45 in Andhra Pradesh for 348 kilometres and Rs 40 in Karnataka for 300 kilometres. But in Assam, a small car is charged Rs 100 for 254 kilometres,” Bora said.

The exorbitant rates have been charged even though there are no roadside amenities such as waiting sheds, toilets, truck and bus terminuses, he added.

Bora said there is no metal beam crash barrier for nearly 80 per cent of the road. No trees are grown on the divider and on both sides of the road. “There are no safety devices, availability of roadside trains and emergency call booths, even the streetlights are yet to be installed fully,” he added. Bora said as per its norms, the NHAI should provide these amenities before setting up a toll gate on a highway.

RAJIV KONWAR Telegraph India