Amidst nationwide lockdown, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) formally inaugurated the Daboka Toll Plaza in Hojai district on Thursday.
The Toll Plaza is located at Nilagar around two kilometres away from Daboka town on the National Highway No. 36.
Daboka Toll Plaza was all set to be operational in March but it couldn’t be inaugurated due to the nationwide lockdown imposed in view of COVID19 pandemic.
On Thursday morning, NHAI inaugurated the toll plaza after performing rituals.
The inaugural programme was attended by officials from the Hojai district administration, police department and some other dignitaries.
However, locals and many other organisations alleged that without prior information the toll plaza was opened all of a sudden this toll plaza was opened secretly.
“At this juncture, when all are struggling for food and livelihood, sudden opening of the toll gate for collecting tax is very disappointing,” a local said.
The Central government ordered opening of toll plazas at seven places in Assam.
Assam transport minister Chandra Mohan Patowary told the Assam Legislative Assembly in March.
While the toll plaza at Dahalapara in Bongaigaon reopened on January 30, toll collection at the Raha (Nagaon) and Patgaon (Kokrajhar) plazas began on March 1 and February 17 respectively, the minister had said.
Patowary also said the toll plazas are under the purview of the Union ministry of road transport and highways, and the state government cannot take any decision on the matter.
