08/12/2025
OPEN LETTER TO THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, CACHAR
To the
Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, Assam
Subject: Urgent appeal to suspend unfair toll collection on NH-27 and restore fairness to the public
I write this letter as a citizen and frequent user of National Highway-27. I must bring to your urgent attention the serious and ongoing unfair treatment faced by the people of Barak Valley. This issue is not just about inconvenience; it touches on dignity and the right to fair treatment under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The Silchar–Haflong stretch of NH-27 is not only in terrible condition but also incomplete and dangerous to drive. There are large, deep potholes, unstable surfaces, and repeated landslides that lead to lane closures. Despite this, the average person still pays the toll, not because the road deserves it but because there is no alternative.
How fair is it to charge a toll for a road that incomplete and dangerous? The toll booth remains functional while the highway leading to it is damaged and incomplete. We, the people, pay, yet we do not receive the service we are expected to.
This issue goes beyond infrastructure; it concerns justice and fairness in how ordinary citizens are treated in this district. While higher officials and powerful leaders travel comfortably, we are forced to pay tolls for broken and incomplete roads.
According to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, toll collection depends on the highway being:
1. Completed or mostly completed, and
2. Safe, driveable, and fit for public use.
The toll is a fee for service, not a mandatory charge regardless of road condition. Hon’ble High Courts and the Hon’ble Supreme Court have consistently upheld the principle: “No service, no toll.” When a road fails to provide basic safety and usability, continued toll collection becomes arbitrary, unreasonable, and violates Article 14 and Article 21.
In similar situations, courts have ordered the temporary suspension of toll collection until the highway is restored to a safe condition. These judicial decisions set a clear legal expectation for the administration. It is deeply unfair that the public bears the financial burden for a service that the highway, in its current state, does not provide.
We request:
1. Immediate suspension of toll collection on NH-27 (Balachera Toll Plaza) until the road work is complete and safe for the public.
2. A transparent, public update on steps being taken to restore this highway.
With respect and earnest hope,
Rajdeep Chowdhury
Advocate
Barak Bulletin Barak Bangla Digital National Highways Authority of India - NHAI
