Belagavi  :

In a rare instance, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has announced reward to RTI activists of the district for exposing a toll plaza agency overcharging the vehicles.

In-fact, Prashant Ashok Burge of Galataga in Chikkodi taluk is the first person deserved to be such honour of NHAI. Burge had exposed toll agency, M/s Konark Infrastructure Ltd., in 2013, for overcharging vehicles against the guidelines of NHAI.

Activist exposed collecting of excess user fee from light motor vehicles at Hattaragi User Fee Plaza. Agency was collecting Rs 20 instead of 15 for one way trip and Rs 40 instead of 35 for return trip. It was collecting excess fee violating NHAI guidelines and even displayed it on large hoardings.

Based on an RTI application filed by Burge on 12th March 2013 with NHAI and union ministry of road transport and highways, excess collection of toll was stopped from 26th March. Besides, as a part of corrective measures, rates displayed on large size hoardings were altered. During investigation, NHAI found excess fee collection and recovered Rs 1.80 crores amount from toll agency by penalizing it. Appreciating the efforts of complainant in the public interest, NHAI has announced Rs 10,000 cash prize to Burge.

However, in the initial stage, NHAI office in Dharwad had dodged to provide information to the activist. Later, he appealed to regional office of NHAI in Bengaluru, from where he got information of excess toll collection of Rs 15, 95,825 by the agency.

But unsatisfied with calculation of NHAI, activist has been sought audit report and cash sums of toll agency under RTI but still striving to get the same. He has also complained to Central Economic Intelligence Bureau to investigate toll collected by the agency before March 2013.

Speaking to the TOI, Prashant Burge said “I have faced lot of problems by the NHAI officials and even threats on cell phone, when I refused to heed the offers they made to me. I recorded threat calls and sent to regional office of NHAI in Bengaluru in CD form. Only after that the investigation speed up.”, he said and thanked NHAI for rewarding him.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Hubballi / by Ravindra Uppar, TNN / October 26th, 2015