Guwahati: Toll payments are coming under renewed scrutiny in Assam following concerns over the condition and safety of several national highway stretches. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) senior leader and former MLA Debabrata Saikia has called on Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to halt toll collection across the state until the concerned roads are repaired and declared safe for traffic.
In a letter addressed to Gadkari, Saikia raised concerns over the alleged deterioration of toll-road stretches and linked the issue to the recent fatal accident at Sonapur on NH-27, where six people reportedly lost their lives.
According to Saikia, the Sonapur tragedy should not be viewed as a standalone incident. He claimed that similar concerns have emerged from other toll roads in Assam, including reports of potholes, inadequate maintenance and repeated accidents despite tolls continuing to be collected from motorists.
Demand to Stop Toll Collection on Unsafe Roads
Saikia argued that road users should not be charged for travelling on stretches that fail to meet basic safety and maintenance standards.
He also referred to the legal principle that toll collection may be questioned when the associated road infrastructure is not adequately maintained or remains unfit for normal use.
Calling for immediate intervention, the former MLA placed a series of demands before the Union government.
Five Key Demands
Saikia has sought:
- Immediate suspension of toll collection on toll roads across Assam until the stretches are repaired and certified as motorable.
- An independent statewide safety and maintenance audit covering toll plazas as well as the highway stretches under tolling.
- A detailed investigation into maintenance failures and recurring accidents, including alleged contractual violations involving the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), concessionaires and Independent Engineers.
- Compensation and immediate assistance for victims and their families, particularly those affected by the Sonapur accident and other incidents on toll roads.
- A publicly accessible corrective action plan identifying the work required, responsible agencies, deadlines and compliance measures.
Calls for Statewide Review
Saikia has argued that the situation requires more than isolated repairs following individual accidents. In his view, a comprehensive review of toll-road maintenance across Assam is necessary to identify recurring safety problems and establish accountability.
He has also stressed that agencies responsible for highway construction, operation and supervision should be held answerable wherever negligence or contractual lapses are established.
The demand comes amid growing public concern over road conditions and highway safety in the state, particularly on heavily travelled national highway corridors.
Road Safety Before Revenue, Says Saikia
At the centre of Saikia’s appeal is the argument that revenue collection through tolls should not take precedence over the safety of commuters.
He has urged the Union Ministry to undertake a statewide intervention, ensure urgent repairs wherever required and make the findings of safety and maintenance assessments available to the public.
If accepted, the proposed measures would represent a broader examination of the condition of toll roads in Assam, rather than limiting government action to individual accident sites or specific highway stretches.
