Demonetisation: Haryana roadways buses won’t charge toll from passengers

After The Indian Express brought the irregularity to the notice of the Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana Transport Department, S S Dhillon, the department Tuesday issued directions to general managers of all its depots to stop charging toll tax with immediate effect.

Haryana Roadways has a fleet of around 4,200 buses which operate from 23 depots and 13 sub-depots covering on an average 12.57 lakh kilometres daily while ferrying around 12.48 lakh passengers.

When contacted, Dhillon said he was not aware of the fact that Haryana Roadways bus conductors had been charging toll tax from passengers. “When the PM himself has declared that toll tax would remain suspended at all National Highways till November 18, conductors should not charge any from passengers. If it is so, tell me name of the conductor and bus number, we will take action.”

On being told that all conductors say that there is no direction to them from the department not to charge toll tax, Dhillon assured prompt action.

After issuing directions to general managers of all Haryana Roadways depots through e-mail as well as on transport department’s WhatsApp group by 12.40 pm to stop charging toll tax with immediate effect, Deputy Transport Controller Ramesh Goyal confirmed that passengers need not to pay toll tax till further decision by the Central government.

Goyal conceded it was due to lack of instructions to the conductors that they were charging toll tax from passengers.

He said since the Haryana state transport made advance payment of toll tax to respective toll barriers, directions have also been issued to all the general managers to adjust the amount for the total number of toll-free days with the toll tax barriers while making advance toll tax payment for the month of December.

Ambala resident Govinderjit Singh, who is a bank employee in Chandigarh, complained, “Haryana Roadways bus fare between Chandigarh and Ambala is Rs 50. But conductors are still charging Rs 7 as the toll tax despite Central government’s decision to suspend the same.”