The Hindu Business Line : Truckers' federation opposes proposed toll tax on new bridge

Kolkata May 18 The Federation of West Bengal Truck Operators' Associations (FWBTOA) has come out strongly against the high toll taxes proposed to be imposed from June on goods vehicles that will use the Second Vivekananda Bridge due to be commissioned shortly.

In a statement, Mr Satyajit Majumder, General Secretary, FWBTOA, resented the decision of the Toll Way Company Pvt Ltd, the private company entrusted with the collection of the tax on the new bridge, to slap a toll tax of Rs 70 per vehicle on the light goods vehicles, Rs 120 per vehicle on heavy goods vehicles and Rs 140 per vehicle on multi-axle goods vehicles for covering a distance of 6.1 km.

"Right now, all goods vehicles using the Vidyasagar Setu (i.e the Second Hooghly bridge) pay a flat rate of Rs 50 per vehicle for covering a distance of seven kilometres," Mr Majumder said, adding, "accordingly, the toll tax on the Second Vivekananda Bridge should not be more than Rs 50 per vehicle and we, therefore, cannot accept the proposal of the Toll Way Company".

Mr Majumder also criticised the State Government's decision not to allow goods vehicles to use the present Vivekananda Bridge once the new bridge had been reopened, pointing out that such a restriction had been imposed only on goods vehicles, while other vehicles such as buses, private cars and taxis would be allowed to use the old bridge as before. "Such a discrimination is unfair, more so when the work on the connecting roads like Dunlop Flyover and Belgharia Expressway is not yet complete," he said.

Unless the proposed toll tax rates on the new bridge were revised downwards, restriction on the use of the old bridge by goods vehicles was removed and the work on the Dunlop Flyover and Belgharia Expressway expedited, FWBTOA would not only stop using the new bridge but might even consider taking legal measures, the statement added.

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