Srinagar, Jul 23 (KNO): The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Thursday informed Parliament that 1,597 complaints related to staff misbehaviour, physical assault and excessive waiting time at National Highway toll plazas were received from Jammu and Kashmir during the last three years, and all of them have been resolved with no complaint pending.
Replying to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said complaints received through the 1033 helpline, Rajmarg Yatra App, email and other platforms are addressed promptly to ensure effective grievance redressal.
The Centre also said toll collection on National Highways begins only after the issuance of a Completion or Provisional Completion Certificate, certification that the road is fit for operation, and publication of the user fee notification in the Gazette of India. It added that toll charges are reduced during highway upgradation works in accordance with the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008.
The ministry further informed the House that regular inspections and compliance audits are carried out at toll plazas to ensure the availability of mandatory facilities, including ambulances, cranes, drinking water, toilets, CCTV surveillance, FASTag infrastructure and public information boards. It said 146 show-cause notices were issued to toll contractors across the country during the last three years, penalties of Rs 5.53 crore were imposed and three contracts were terminated for violations—(KNO)