Motorway toll plazas staff is allegedly involved in corruption in connivance with heavy transport companies, causing millions of rupees loss to the exchequer. Well-placed sources in the National Highway Authority (NHA) said that efforts are being made to deter this practice by making M-tag (electronic registration) compulsory for heavy transport. Large size banners were recently displayed on toll plazas of motorway, suggesting the commuters to get register under M-tag. No vehicle would be allowed to enter motorway without it after 30th of April.
Public Relations Officer FWO, Abdullah Hafeez said complaints of corruption were also in notice of the organisation and one objective of making M-tag compulsory for heavy transporters is to deal with this issue. He said M-tagging of heavy vehicles would ensure a centralized surveillance of vehicles which included the actual number of passengers, exact location of vehicle on motorway, instant reporting of any untoward situation and such other issues on motorway.
The sources said the transport companies were greasing the palms of toll plaza staffers on M1, M2 and M3 in order to pass through the check points without paying proper toll tax. "Drivers of buses, trucks and vans pay Rs 100 against actual toll causing heavy loss to national exchequer and pass through the check point," they added.
However, light vehicles are not bound to get register with M-tag in order to ply on motorway. But commuters of light vehicles said that they have no idea why the toll is being increased by the concerned authorities twice a year. They blamed the toll mafia of plundering them in the name of comfortable and fast traveling on motorway.
Recently, segregated toll plazas have been introduced on M1 and M3 to charge separately from commuters before they leave the motorway on exit points. Interestingly, both the NHA and FWO are blaming each other for installation of these toll plazas which is costing heavily to commuters, particularly the owners of light vehicles, both in terms of money and time.
Interestingly, the toll managers at the Lahore Ring Road have increased toll to Rs35 from Rs10 per vehicle after the completion of Southern loop of Ring Road. The commuters are also bound to pay Rs 30 per vehicle to cross Kahna Kacha flyover.
Talking to Business Recorder, commuters pointed out that no toll tax is being charged from citizens within the city. They are of the view that the government collects heavy amount in the name of vehicle registration besides annual token fee. These taxes and fees are charged to look after the roads world over. But the motorways, highways and Ring Road authorities are charging separate tolls in the name of road management which is nothing but fleecing the commuters.