Col Shiv Choudhary (Retd)
National Highways (NH) are an important part of India’s transportation infrastructure. They are the primary arteries of the country’s road network, connecting major cities and ports, and facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services. The quality of NH is a critical factor in determining the efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness of transportation in any country. The amount of toll taxes charged from the public for use of NHs are directly related to the quality of the NHs provided and the efficacy and honesty of the monitoring system.
The NH in Jammu region has been a subject of concern for many years now due to its poor condition. The highway connects the Jammu region to other parts of the country and is an important route for transportation of goods and people. However, the pathetic initial construction and the ever deteriorating condition of the road have made it nearly impossible for travellers to use it safely and efficiently. The amount of toll taxes imposed on the users with the existing standard of NH is absolutely unjustified and tantamount to fleecing money from helpless NH users. Any attempt to pacify the sufferers for their ire against poor quality of NHs and reckless taxes due to ongoing widening work, will be misleading.
One of the main issues with the NH in the region is the poor quality of the road surface. The road has virtually non-existant service lanes. Whatever existing are always occupied by pvt vehicles parked all over with none to check or control. Single way narrow bridges at many places, poor drainage, potholes and cracks, and waterlogging always lead to traffic jams throughout the year and more so during the monsoon season. Limited number of lanes at the toll plaza, outdated automatic scanning tools, long queues, violation of toll posts rules and laid guidelines make it nightmarish to drive on. Leave aside the much touted and promise of providing fuel stations, rest rooms and other allied facilities along the NH. These conditions pose a serious threat to the safety of travellers, as accidents with loss of lives are more likely to occur on such roads.
The uniform scale of toll taxes charged on the NH in Jammu region irrespective of the time taken for to and fro use of NH has been a very souring point topic for many years now. While the government claims that the toll tax is necessary for the maintenance of the road, common view is that the high toll taxes are unfair given the poor condition of the road and varying distances of usage of NHs. The government has promised to improve the condition of the road and reduce the toll tax, but little progress has been made in this regard. The high toll taxes applied totally are exorbitant and unjustified given the type and scale of damage caused to the vehicles, high cost of fuel and maintenance and impact on safety and health of passengers. It is indeed a forced liability for those who use the highway frequently for their daily commute.
The government does not have to charge full rate of single crossing of the toll plaza for as little as one km away or returning within few hours, and refusal to issue both ways toll payment tickets as has been prevalent here. This is an atrocious practice. No doubt, funds are needed but as per statement issued by the government in 2022, 6.4 crore FASTags had been issued, the total number of FASTag-enabled fee plazas across the country grew to 1,181 (including 323 State Highways fee plazas) against 922 in 2021. Total toll collection through FASTag grew 46 pc to Rs 50,855 crore in 2022. Is not it the violation for not stopping the toll taxes after a certain accruals out of toll plazas or reduce the charges with varying standard of NHs.
The revised rates of toll taxes effective from 1 Apr 2023 are alarmingly very high. Imagine car user paying Rs 165, Rs 245 and Rs 5485 under FastTag for one way, return withing 24 hours and monthly charges respectively. It is also worth mentioning that a load carrier with 7 axles has to dish out huge amount like Rs 35435 for 50 crossings within a month ie Rs 709 per crossing under toll plaza.
Government may justify this game of collecting funds under any name or banner but it is unbearable for anyone.
The NH connecting and passing through UT of Jammu and Kashmir has a very significant role and any compromise on its quality has a negative impact on the country’s economy as a whole. The government needs to take urgent steps to improve the condition of the road and reduce the toll tax. The government should allocate sufficient funds for the maintenance and repair of the road and should also explore alternative sources of revenue to reduce the burden of toll tax on travellers. Need for sufficient funds towards maintenance in no way entitles the NHA to float laid parameters on NH and loot the travellers with an ideal NH nowhere in the sight. Imagine a traveller getting stuck on the NH for hours and at times days after entering from gateway at Lakhanpur.
The capacity of the toll plazas are totally inadequate to handle the existing and expected traffic volume at both Ban Talab and Raya More toll plazas. Long queues and delays are experienced on daily basis. The problem is getting compounded due to heavy traffic of security forces and heavily loaded trucks moving up and down on daily basis, religious gathering, causing enormous delays, fuel wastage and stress during the scorching summers and chilling winter. The ongoing unplanned construction at numerous sites is being done in a most hazardous and haphazard manner with scanty manpower seen on such sites. There is a utter lack of long term plan causing avoidable demolition of not very old NHs as is being seen in Brahman Bari area.
The surface quality of a NH is critical. A good NH should have a smooth surface, with a uniform texture and consistent level. The surface should also be durable enough to withstand heavy traffic and weather conditions. The mandated provision of providing alternative concrete road for regular flow of vehicles in a smooth and safe way against pathetic alternative road existing today or during the construction of flyovers or maintenance, is not just not paid heed to. The scrapping in patches of the existing NH and SH month before actual widening/ maintenance work is beyond fathom.
A good NH should have clear and visible signs, indicating speed limits, lane markings, and directions. Markings should be reflective and durable to ensure they are visible in all weather conditions. Properly located signages are critical for guiding drivers on any NH. There cannot be worst example of incorrectly erected road signages indicating destinations with distance as one sees at Satwari and Kajuwani chowk in Jammu city. Their incorrect locations only prompt the drivers to enter Gangyal and Satwari Cantt area.
Safety features such as guard rails, crash barriers, and rumble strips are essential for preventing accidents on any NH. A good NH should have these safety features installed at critical locations, such as bridges, steep curves, and intersections. There cannot be worst example of a NH carelessness and overlooks then designing and constructing NH like one existing in Kajuwani chowk (Jammu) where the width of the NH is lesser than that of a park created out of NH. This vital NH leading to Leh/ Ladakh can accommodate just a single load carrier.
It has been near three decades since the beginning of the NHs in Jammu region. Painfully for the tax payers, the NH and railways ministries have miserably failed to provide two ways passage under the railway bridges near Sainik Colony, Jammu and Supwal in Samba area and near Batra hospital yet again over/ under the railway line. Responsible citizens and forum have approached NHA to look into these critical spots to avoid congestion, delays and accidents. Apathy of authorities is abundantly clear when even the request has not been acknowledged.
The quality of a NH in India is determined by several factors and characteristics to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective transportation for people, goods, and services. The NH minister is known for efficiency and speed. It appears that the minister needs a correct feedback from ground staff and he must guard against applying a uniform scale of toll taxes. None would feel suffocated for payment for the use of good road but the good NH must be provided for. It is time, the NHA brings in the existing technology of seeking toll taxes for the actual km of the usage of the NH and nonstop move of vehicles with FasTags at the toll plaza. Users will continue to pay with a pinch of salt but the toll taxes charged surely needs to be seriously and promptly looked into for the type of NH existing and duration of its actual usage.
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