Disabled war hero asked to pay toll despite showing documents in K’taka, NHAI responds
In a shocking incident, a disabled war hero was asked to pay toll at a plaza in Karnataka, despite showing documents that exempted him from paying the fee. The ex-Para SF commando, who suffered injuries during an operation, was traveling through the Sasthan toll plaza in Udupi, Karnataka, when he was stopped and asked to pay the toll. What’s even more surprising is that he was not asked to pay toll at earlier plazas, raising questions about the consistency of toll collection policies.
The war hero, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that he was taken aback when he was asked to pay the toll, despite showing his documents that clearly stated his exemption. He said, “I was surprised when the toll collector asked me to pay the toll, despite showing him my documents. I have been traveling through various toll plazas, and this is the first time I was asked to pay. I showed him my disability certificate, my army ID, and other documents, but he refused to listen.”
The disabled war hero’s story has sparked outrage on social media, with many calling for a uniform toll collection policy that respects the sacrifices made by armed forces personnel. Many have also questioned the NHAI’s (National Highways Authority of India) response to the incident, which stated that toll fee exemption applies only to serving Army personnel on official duty.
In response to the incident, NHAI said, “Toll fee exemption applies only to serving Army personnel on official duty. The exemption is not applicable to retired or disabled personnel, even if they are traveling for personal purposes.” This response has been met with criticism from many, who argue that the exemption should be extended to all armed forces personnel, regardless of their status or purpose of travel.
The incident has also raised questions about the lack of awareness among toll collectors about the exemption policies. The disabled war hero said, “The toll collector seemed unaware of the exemption policies, and even after showing him my documents, he refused to listen. It’s sad that even after serving the country, we are not treated with respect and dignity.”
The issue of toll exemption for armed forces personnel has been a contentious one, with many arguing that it is a small gesture of respect for their sacrifices. In 2019, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had announced that toll fee exemption would be given to serving Army personnel on official duty, but it seems that this exemption is not being uniformly applied.
The disabled war hero’s story is a reminder of the sacrifices made by armed forces personnel and the need for a more compassionate and respectful approach towards them. It is imperative that the NHAI and other authorities take steps to ensure that toll collectors are aware of the exemption policies and that they are applied uniformly.
In the meantime, the disabled war hero’s story has sparked a wider debate about the treatment of armed forces personnel and the need for a more supportive ecosystem. As one Twitter user said, “It’s sad that our war heroes are treated like this. We need to do more to support them and respect their sacrifices.”
In conclusion, the incident at the Sasthan toll plaza in Udupi, Karnataka, is a wake-up call for the NHAI and other authorities to review their toll collection policies and ensure that they are fair and respectful towards armed forces personnel. It is imperative that we treat our war heroes with the dignity and respect they deserve, and that we take steps to support them in their time of need.
Source: https://x.com/NHAIROBengaluru/status/2015805264314986909
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