The West Bengal government has directed the immediate closure of all illegal toll plazas and collection points across the state, in a significant move aimed at tightening oversight of the transport system. The order was issued through a notification released on Tuesday night from the office of the state’s new Chief Secretary, Manojkumar Agarwal.
The directive has been circulated to all district magistrates, placing responsibility on local administrations to act without delay.
According to the notification, “all illegal toll gates, drop gates, barricades or operational collection points in all districts of the state must be removed as quickly as possible.” The order makes it clear that such unauthorised setups should not only be dismantled but also prevented from reappearing in the future.
District authorities have been instructed to ensure strict compliance on the ground.
Monitoring and prevention of unauthorised collections
The directive further emphasises vigilance against illegal collections. It states that district magistrates must monitor the situation closely to ensure that “no money is collected from passengers in any way from such illegal toll gates.”
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This places an added layer of accountability on district administrations to curb any informal or unauthorised fee collection practices.
Details of legal toll gates sought
Alongside the crackdown on illegal operations, the state government has also asked for comprehensive details on authorised toll systems. Districts have been directed to provide information on the number of legal toll gates, the agencies operating them, and the duration of their tender agreements.
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In addition, data on authorised collection points functioning within the state must also be submitted.
Deadline set for report submission
The notification specifies a strict timeline for compliance. All district magistrates are required to compile and submit the requested information to the Chief Secretary’s office by Friday, May 15, before 12 noon.
The move signals a coordinated effort by the state administration to streamline toll operations and bring greater transparency to the system.
