Giving a jolt to the outfits carrying out campaign against hefty toll tax in Haryana, Union Minister of State for Road Transportation Krishan Pal Singh Gurjar has made it clear that the Union Government was at present not contemplating slashing rates of toll tax in the State.
He said as the toll companies were charging tax as per terms and conditions laid down in their agreement hence the union government cannot interfere in the issue. Gurjar was talking to reporters at a news conference held at the residence of State BJP chief Ram Bilas Sharma in Mahendragarh.
“Since computation of toll tax is the policy matter and it is decided at the time of agreement so now the Union Government cannot force the toll companies to reduce the taxes but we shall take appropriate action if any toll company is found violating the terms and conditions by charging more than stipulated tax,” said the Minister.
He maintained that the Union Government had asked the toll companies not to charge toll tax of six-lane road before its completion. “We have received some complaints that some companies are charging toll-tax for six-lane road while the road work is yet to be completed. Taking a serious view of the complaint, the companies have been directed to charge toll tax as per four-lane rates till six-lane road is constructed,” said Gurjar.
Meanwhile, terming the State Government’s toll policy as ‘unfavourable’ for common man, Virender Hooda, chief of Toll Hatao Sangharsh Samiti Haryana, said the samiti would carry on its agitation campaign against hefty toll tax as usual across the State because they were raising the demand of ‘Toll Free Haryana.’