West Bengal Government Orders Closure Of All Unauthorized Toll Plazas Across State
West Bengal orders closure of illegal toll plazas.
The West Bengal government has ordered the immediate closure of all unauthorised toll plazas and vehicle drop gates operating across the state, in a move aimed at dismantling collection points that were allegedly set up without official approval during the previous administration.
The directive, issued by newly appointed Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, states that all toll gates, barricaded checkpoints, and other vehicle fee collection points lacking valid authorisation from the state government must cease operations without delay. The order applies across all districts in West Bengal.
District Magistrates have been instructed to identify such unauthorised collection points within their jurisdictions and ensure their prompt removal. They have also been directed to take preventive measures to ensure that such structures are not re-established in the future without proper clearance from competent authorities.
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The order further makes it clear that any collection of fees, charges, or levies at unauthorised points must be stopped immediately. Officials have also been asked to prepare a comprehensive list of both authorised and unauthorised toll collection points and submit the report to the state administration within a specified deadline.
According to the directive, strict accountability will be enforced for non-compliance, with responsibility to be fixed on concerned officials if the instructions are not followed in letter and spirit. The move is being positioned as part of a broader administrative effort to regulate road fee collection and ensure transparency in public revenue systems.
The issue of unauthorised toll collection has been a longstanding concern in parts of the state, with transport operators in the past alleging that vehicles were frequently stopped at informal checkpoints and made to pay charges without receipts. The latest order signals a crackdown on such practices and a push for stricter regulatory oversight of toll operations across West Bengal.
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