The Nagaland Voluntary Consumer’s Organisation (NVCO) has expressed strong opposition to the Government’s recent proposal to partially lift the toll gate ban, citing severe public grievances regarding toll tax collection in the past. The organization highlighted that vehicle owners and drivers have faced harassment on by-lanes and highways, resulting in price rises for both essential and non-essential commodities.
This opposition comes following the announcement by Zhaleo Rio, Adviser for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs who said that the Nagaland government is considering a partial lifting of the toll gate ban, but only in select areas with strict regulations.
Speaking to the media during an event where sanitation vehicles were distributed to urban local bodies (ULBs) in Chümoukedima, Rio noted that while the state had previously enforced a blanket ban, discussions with higher authorities had opened the door for a more strategic approach. “The ban may be partially lifted at key locations, but regulations will be strict,” Rio stated, although he did not specify a timeline for the decision.
According to NVCO, earlier, toll tax was collected by municipal and town councils in conjunction with the Nagaland Police and various organizations, including state government agencies, at check gates along highways. Reports indicate several incidents where truck drivers were assaulted for refusing to pay tolls. Furthermore, the NVCO noted that many transporters have opted to avoid entering Nagaland due to excessive taxation, leading to protests and disruptions in the form of bandhs and chakka jams.
The NVCO stressed that the illegal collection of cash has tarnished the image of Nagaland as a Christian state. It highlighted that, in a standing order issued by the Chief Secretary on June 22, 2009, the State Government mandated that no taxes or cash collection would be allowed by any organization or individual, including government departments such as the Police, Excise, Forest, and Taxes Departments. “This decision was taken at a high level meeting under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister to stop collection of taxes/cash by various organisations and unions etc. at various check gates on the highways all over Nagaland,” it added.
On December 8, 2009, according to NVCO, the state government reiterated this order, further supported by a judgment from the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, on June 3, 2014, which prohibited associations and organizations from collecting cash on by-lanes and highways. In light of public outcry, a blanket ban on toll tax and cash collection was imposed under the initiative of the Governor of Nagaland, a decision that was welcomed by the public.
However, the government is now considering lifting this ban despite the establishment of a significant toll tax center between Dimapur and Kohima, as well as the impact of GST on essential commodity prices, it said.
NVCO President Kezhokhoto Savi stated that toll tax collection should be restricted to firms, builders, or contractors that have invested their own funds in constructing roads or bridges, as outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the government and construction groups. Under this agreement, these entities are permitted to recover their investments within a specified timeframe and at rates established by the government.
“This policy allows the government to build infrastructure by collaborating with private builders, especially when there are no available funds for such projects,” Savi explained. “However, no organization or body has the right to collect toll tax without having made any investment in the infrastructure.”
Savi maintained that toll taxes should be exclusively allocated for the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. He highlighted the deplorable condition of Nagaland’s infrastructure, pointing out that many roads are in disrepair and that heavy trucks frequently struggle on these poorly maintained routes. “Given the current state of our roads and bridges, the question arises: why is the state government in such a rush to lift the toll tax ban? They seem poised to grant toll collection rights to entities that have not invested in the construction or maintenance of these vital infrastructures.”
As public discontent continues to grow, the NVCO maintained that lifting the toll ban would exacerbate existing issues and fail to address the urgent need for improved infrastructure in the state. The organization called on the government to reconsider its proposal and prioritize the welfare of the public and the integrity of Nagaland’s roadways.
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