Locals protest as NHAI toll gates stall traffic in Assam

Two toll gates set up recently at Madanpur and Sonapur near the capital city Guwahati by the national highways authority of India has created anger among the residents and commuters of the areas with frequent protests by All Assam Students Union (AASU) and other organisation demanding the closure of toll-plazas immediately.

Referring the frequent chaotic traffic jam from Baiahat Chariali to Madanpur toll gate, the commuters alleged that toll plazas at Madanpur was set up without any proper planning for which the travellers have to face problem while passing through the area.

Pointing out as to how chaos erupted in the area as commuters faced massive traffic jam while passing through the toll gate and the passengers stuck in traffic jam for hours and hours on Monday, the angry protesters said that Baihata Charilai has become a satellite township of the capital city of Guwahati and setting up toll plaza in between was not feasible and bound to create problem for locals.

Accusing that even ambulances are getting stuck for more than an hour in the toll plaza, the commuters who travel to and fro from Guwahati and Baihata Chariali expressed anger over the newly constructed toll plaza. “I travel to and fro from Guwahati and Baihata on a daily basis as I am a Railway employee and have to face the same problem every day. We have to wait for hours while passing through the toll gate,” said the commuters, questioning that they are compelled to pay the taxes multiple times for the highways constructed with the money of taxpayers only.