The Vigilance Bureau (VB) has initiated a probe into alleged manipulation of figures (money collections) in log books of toll plazas on state highways.
A senior VB officer said, “Certain toll plazas are reportedly diverting the amount from plazas under different heads to conceal the figures. There are reports about siphoning of money.”
The bureau is conducting random sampling of collections and records at a few toll plazas out of 18 on 10 state highways. We are looking into allegations of tax evasion as well, the officer said.
In March 2015, then People’s Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal had alleged “irrational” levying of charges by toll plazas.
Finance Minister Manpreet told The Tribune, “The government has received complaints about ‘irrational toll charges’. It is looking into the matter.”
In the past week, the state authorities received scores of complaints about toll plazas charging “inflated amounts” from people who returned within 12 hours. Messages went viral on social media, alleging the companies were charging “higher” amounts.
The authorities (mainly the Executive Engineer of the Central Works Division) have pasted a circular on all toll plazas, claiming the charges being collected were correct. The circular at the plaza on the Siswan-Kurali plaza read, “This is with reference to fake news being circulated among the public of Punjab that the validity of a single ticket is up to 12 hours. Charges being levied are correct.”
