NHAI imposing Rs 10-lakh penalty on toll plaza operators refusing Rs 5 change
A new penalty-related rule is being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the toll plazas it administers.
Under the rule, a penalty of Rs 10 lakh may be imposed by the NHAI on toll collection contractors on National Highways, if they fail to provide the requisite change of Rs 5 to the toll plaza users; and give them packets of namkeen, coffee or wafers instead.
All the developers of the NHAI-administered toll plazas on National Highways have been instructed to display – in easily comprehensible language – the Rs 10-lakh penalty which will be imposed for each such wrong practice of handing over namkeen, coffee or wafer packets in place of Rs 5.
At present, the penalty imposed by the NHAI for such offences commuted by toll collection contractors is Rs1 lakh. The NHAI has said in a recent notification that the clause with regard to the increase in the penalty amount will be incorporated in all future contracts which will be awarded to toll plaza developers.
About the reason behind the decision to impose the Rs 10-lakh penalty on toll plaza operators, the NHAI said that the move will ensure that users are aware of the measurable quality of service levels which they are duly entitled to receive when they use roads. In addition, the users should also know about the penalty levels involved in case the toll collection contractors to not provide the desired service.
Source- The Hindu Business Line
National Highways Authority of India, NHAI, Road transport, Toll collection contractors on national highways, transport and logistics
