That the Telangana government waived toll gate tax from January 13 to 16 for people going home for Sankranti was Saturday’s big news as it would save the travellers time and money. However, its implementation was a failure till around Sunday noon — because till then, motorists had been taxed, with vehicles seen stranded for long stretches near toll plazas.
“The Chief Secretary’s order waiving toll tax is not clear, it only resulted in confusion to everyone — toll operators, police, and travellers,” said officials of the Panthangi toll plaza at Choutuppal.
Vehicles near toll plazas at Choutuppal, Korlahapahad, Chillakallu and Keesara on NH-65 (Hyderabad-Vijayawada) came to a standstill, or were moving at a snail’s pace as toll officials said they lacked communication on the waiver, and continued charging.
“We assumed it was for the State Highways, and plazas on the national highway need an official order from the National Highways Authority of India, which we do not have,” they said.
But for commuters, it was a woeful wait as the waiver instruction served no purpose, instead wasted time.
“There was TV news, it was in the papers, but toll operators continued charging. That is the only reason for the severe traffic blockade,” complained a motorist, saying he was held up at Choutuppal for nearly two hours.
Heated arguments
Vehicle drivers were seen engaged in heated arguments with toll operators and the police, even as others either honked their vehicles or waited silently for almost two hours.
Around 11.30 a.m., district administrative officials, alerted by the police and beaming television news, intervened to restore order.
Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri District Collector Anita Ramachandran, after the police appraisal of the situation, consulted NHAI officials and issued an order for ‘no toll’ at Panthangi till the midnight of January13.
Police officials said severe fog on the highway also led to long queues of vehicles. Emergency vehicles, ambulances and VIPs, however, were allowed through a separate lane.
According to officials, an estimated 22,000 vehicles passed through the Panthangi toll plaza at Choutuppal on Sunday, nearly half the number it had taxed the previous day.