Reported by Avik Chakraborty
Dibrugarh: The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) has clarified that the two toll plazas located within a 14-kilometre stretch in Assam’s Dibrugarh district are in full compliance with the existing rules and guidelines of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
The clarification came in response to a public grievance filed by a resident, Arnab Handique, regarding the proximity of Khowang Toll Plaza on NH-37 and Bogibeel Toll Plaza on NH-15.
According to an official communication issued by NHIDCL’s Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) in Dibrugarh, the matter was examined by the Authority Engineer, M/s URS Scott Wilson India Pvt. Ltd., following instructions from the competent authority. A detailed report was subsequently submitted on April 23, 2026.
The report noted that toll fee collection on national highways is governed by the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. As per these provisions, the minimum distance criterion between two toll plazas generally applies only when they are located on the same national highway and within the same project stretch.
However, NHIDCL clarified that this restriction does not apply in cases where toll plazas are situated on different national highways or are part of separate project stretches or contract packages, even if they fall within the same district.
“In the present case, Khowang Toll Plaza (NH-37) and Bogibeel Toll Plaza (NH-15) are part of different national highways and separate project stretches. Therefore, their establishment is in conformity with the applicable MoRTH rules and guidelines,” the NHIDCL stated.
The corporation concluded that no violation of norms has occurred and the placement of both toll plazas is legally valid. The communication was issued by Rupesh Kumar, General Manager (Projects), NHIDCL PMU, Dibrugarh, for the information of the complainant.