It is interesting to read the blogs and narratives of travels. In such blogs and writings, people share their experiences about places and the Long Trips they take. Such sharing, sometimes emotional experiences, provide insights about a place, positive and negative aspects of travels and many more information. However, such blogs or travelogues do not mention the skyrocketing Petrol/Diesel prices in India or the unprincipled toll charges at highways.
Do not talk about the Petrol/Diesel prices; fill the tank and move; without any murmur pay the toll and drive in the highways, just like people do in Rich Countries. Wonderful idea... It is not the money that is being paid, but how the politicians loot the public through these means...
I wonder how many people are aware that each litre of petrol/diesel price includes a cess tax for roads and to improve infrastructure? (As per 2022, nearly 8Rs in every litre of Petrol). Whenever we buy petrol/diesel, we pay tax not only for gasoline, but also for the road. Moreover, whenever we buy and register a new automobile, pay road tax to the state for 15 years.
Another issue is the Toll Road and Toll Charges. The drivers or
the public do not know how long toll will be collected in a particular road, at a particular toll plaza or, what is the expense of that road construction, maintenance, and how much is collected every day, etc... etc. The
government has to collect; or, already collected many times more than the cost of
constructing the roads and maintenance costs. Still toll is collected. Toll roads are increased day after day. Is it
justified? What a daylight cheating???
The govt is busy constructing roads… toll roads... Express ways... good roads… for collecting tolls... People foolishly think that the government is concerned about people and their travels. However, politicians are clever, they give contracts (commission money??) to construct new toll roads… who earns, who loots the people … politicians, and the ruling party heads. The politicians live comfortably by looting and cheating people.
NHAI recommended a 5% to 10% hike in toll charges this April. This will sure increase the prices of essential commodities. Thousands of vehicles use the toll roads every day for personal travel as well as to move goods. Fruits, vegetables, all edibles, building materials and all goods are transported via road; almost all commodities are transported today by road.
Nobody can object if the Govt
or the NHAI collects a reasonable cost, with a time limit, a minimal
charge. Alternatively, reduce all the
unwanted taxes from Petro/Diesel. Let people live in India peacefully. People
are extremely happy to drive in good roads, enjoy their hard-earned money. However, what is happening is, you work hard and pay back your earnings to the politicians and the government as tax by purchasing petrol, paying road tolls and GST and other form of taxes.
Prime Minister comes,
inaugurates the road, is it a free road that he inaugurates? Who pays the cost of Prime Minister's trip
and, where does the toll charges go? Is it not the duty of the government to reduce the tax and
provide more comfort to people? In India, what happens is just the upside down. The funny
thing is: people vote and elect a government and the government start looting the people. Can we call People or the Politician fools?
