Excess collected at Hattargi toll
CIC—TOLL RTI query results in Rs 1.87 Cr recovery from toll operator
The commuters were being charged extra at the Hattargi Toll plaza on the NH4 about 45 kms from Belagavi, and this was unearthed in an reply to a RTI reply. The over charging was to the tune of Rs 1.87 crore.
P A Burge, in his application, stated that he wants to know the reasons for which the user fee was being charged at Rs 20 and Rs 40 whereas it should have been Rs 15 and Rs 35 respectively. Soon after his RTI application landed in the NHAI offices, a surprise check was carried out Hattargi user fee plaza which showed the commuters were indeed charged extra.
NHAI has imposed a penalty for excess collection toll fee by toll collecting and an amount of Rs 1.827 crore has been recovered for the same. The excess amount of toll fee collected by the agency has also been refunded to NHAI by the toll collecting agency.
Notice boards came up on all toll booths, displaying that the excess user fee of Rs 5 can be collected by the passengers, after producing proof of identification and excess fee charged.