Although FASTag has proved to be a game-changer in addressing toll hurdles, making it mandatory has not been accepted by everyone. After the government of India made FASTag mandatory, there have been constant clashes between locals and toll booth runners over the concession. When authorities did not listen to the pleas, a group of villagers in Karnataka took things into their own hands. They used a bulldozer to construct a parallel road to bypass the booth and avoid toll taxes. Read on to know more.
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Villagers Constructed Toll-Free Road Parallel To The Booth
When FASTag was made mandatory, vehicles belonging to Hejamadi were given concession. However, four buses that pick up passengers from the village were not given any concession. The local gram panchayat had sent a request to the authorities for the concession. The authorities even promised to offer the concession, but that did not happen. The angry villages then took things into their own hands. The gram panchayat conducted an emergency meeting and started building a ‘toll-free’ road parallel to the booth with the help of a bulldozer. Karnataka’s Jog Falls To Get Global Makeover With Ropeway & Boating Facilities
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The Construction Halted After Written Assurance
When authorities came to know about the construction, a representative of the concessionaire hurried to the spot to stop the activities. However, the villagers weren’t ready to listen. The road construction was halted finally after receiving a written assurance from the concessionaire. However, reportedly, the buses have already started plying on the temporary roads.