ASSAM: ULFA (I) OPPOSES TOLL GATE

17 July 2018:

The Paresh Baruah faction of United Liberation Front of Assam or ULFA (Independent) has opposed the reopening of the toll gate on National Highway 37 at Raha in central Assam's Nagaon district saying the road was constructed by the British and no private investment was involved for which tolls were being collected.

The outfit was critical of Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary who had asserted that toll gates exist in foreign countries. The ULFA (I) in a statement said the toll gates are opened only when a road is constructed by private players, who, in return, collect toll from the users. “But this road was constructed by the British and it was known as Assam Trunk Road. The Government of India named it National Highway 37. Besides, the government collects road tax from vehicle users, a portion of which is used for the construction and maintenance of roads and hence, toll gates should not be applicable in this case”.

The outfit added: “It seems Patowary was referring to the toll gates in China but he should also know that China constructed five lakh kilometres of super class highways like those in the western countries. But those roads have been constructed by the provincial administration, which hands over the roads to private investors and people do not pay tax for it. If Patowary wants to emulate toll gates in China, he should also emulate other good things happening there”.

On the much-talked-about “acche din”, the ULFA (I) said it was nowhere to be seen as the common people were waiting to see some betterment in the state from the present government.