Illegal toll collection at IRB toll naka at Moshi, Pune

July 31, 2015

An incident showcasing another Toll corruption was seen at IRB toll naka where a localite was forced to pay toll tax.As per NHAI rules the local people near a toll plaza are exempted from the tax,but Mr preetam was forcibly made to pay the tax.He has already lodged a complain.Following is an excerpt from his lodged complain:

“Hi,

Today, I was forcefully made to pay toll tax at Moshi in Pune at an IRB toll tax naka. This even after I showed that my vehichle RC (MH 14 EC 2891- Dehu Road). I also informed them that I am a local and the visit was for my flat at Chimbali (Mantra Magic). Also, that I use to cross this toll regularly and never ever have I been asked for toll payment, once they see my RC.
Inspite of this the toll staffs barricaded, obstructed my vehicle and forced me to pay the tax.
I was manage to procure the identity of one of the employee named ’Prashant’, employee id- 12295.

In this regard, I would like to request you for below-
1) Conduct an immediate inquiry within a couple of days to ascertain the facts
2) Penalize the involved employees, also the employee that I have mentioned
3) Ensure that at all toll plaza it is mentioned that local people are not required to pay toll and mention the applicable local area for each toll, or, mention the travels for which one has to pay toll
4) Contact me on my given mail id keep me updated

I have put my experience on twitter, keeping in loop the CMO, Maharashtra.

If I do not get response on this by monday, I would place my application to NHAI and CMO, Maharashtra and Ministry of Highways, GOI for cognizance and finally plan to take it to consumer court for legal remedy.

Thank you,
Abhishek Kumar Preetam”

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under About, Articles, Commuting, Complain

One for the road: Liquor tax for cheaper bus ride

July 28, 2014

Neelam Pandey,

Soon, every pint of alcohol that you down will, likely, chip in towards making the Capital a superior city – one with cheaper public transport, smoother vehicular movement and cleaner air. The Delhi government has plans to make liquor costlier by Rs. 1-2 per bottle, and use the fund accumulated to subsidise mass transit systems, a step that will also address the problems of traffic jams and pollution.According to senior Delhi government officials, the matter was taken up earlier this month in a meeting of a high-power committee on air and water pollution constituted on the directions of the lieutenant-governor.

It was proposed at the gathering that the excise department should charge Rs. 1-2, or more, on the sale of every bottle of liquor, which can help in reducing the burden on the city’s commuters. Senior officials in the excise department said that the issue is being examined and they will impose this tax soon. In the meeting, transport, excise and environment departments were asked to work out the modalities.

“Right now, a DTC AC bus ride from your home to office and back costs about Rs. 50. This is not a small amount for middle-class families and, hence, they end up buying two-wheelers or small cars. We are scaling up non-motorised transit and public transport. We need resources to meet the capital and operational needs. We have to lower bus fares to discourage car use. If we increase the cost of a bottle of liquor by Re 1, it is not going to affect anyone too much,” said a senior Delhi government functionary.

Officials added that a corpus kitty called urban transport fund should also be created, which is a part of Delhi’s five-year plan to improve air quality. “A portion of this source can be used to lower bus fares. The issue of creating an urban transport fund to meet the resource needs of public transit systems was taken up in the meeting. It was decided that we have to cross-subsidise public transport fare to attract more and more people. Since public transport needs to meet societal and environmental goals, it cannot be treated as a commercial enterprise and taxed,” said another senior Delhi government representative.

Source-http://www.hindustantimes.com/

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Commuting