[Mustang Sammy]

You might have noticed this sign or some variant thereof posted around toll areas of our highways.

When I look at the categories of people exempted from paying toll, it does cause some heartburn as a tax and toll payer.

Other than vehicles on government duty (army, police, postal services etc) why should anyone else be exempt from paying tolls?

If MLAs and MPs need to travel as part of their job, then they better pay toll like the rest of us.

Are they so poorly paid that they cannot even afford a few hundred rupees for the upkeep and expansion of our road network?

Till this leeching off the taxpayer ends, things in India will not improve.

[ABHI_1512]

People in our country are more concerned about the subsidies given to the poor than worrying about the freebies enjoyed by the political class. So, I don’t think anything is going to change at all.

[INJAXN]

I felt a little agitated on seeing all these government employees getting free access, but then I realized that even if they pay, they will be paying from our tax money only as far as they can say that they are on government duty, so its a moot point

[Dry Ice]

Looking at such massive boards on tolls, I sometimes wonder, isn’t it simpler to display who must pay, rather than maintain this huge list?

You must pay toll if you are unable to prove any affiliation to a political party, or a serving Govt officer.

Some of the money saved, by putting up this smaller board, can go back to the entities on the exclude list.

[SmartCat]

All of us will stop complaining if -

(14) Teambhp members

is added to the list.

[ToThePoint]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Looking at such massive boards on tolls, I sometimes wonder, isn’t it simpler to display who must pay, rather than maintain this huge list?

You must pay toll if you are unable to prove any affiliation to a political party, or a serving Govt officer.

Some of the money saved, by putting up this smaller board, can go back to the entities on the exclude list.

If the intention was ever to save money, you wouldn't see banners n posters of the so called 'leaders' every few metres on roads, buses, etc etc.

How else would they RUB it in your face as to how less privileged and menial the common folk are compared to them?

[Mustang Sammy]

Not to mention the delays it causes as everyone and their uncle wave IDs at and argues with thr toll booth staff asking to be let through for free.
That alone should be sufficient reason to stop this egregious practice.

[fhdowntheline]

In my view, except for 1,2,5,6,10 on the list, along with ambulances, funeral vans, police/fire/paramilitary/armed forces vehicles on emergency duty, everyone must pay toll tax. Being in an executive or legislative role should not exempt one from doing their duty. Same goes for diplomats using CD plates-they may be on vacation for all you know.

[TorquePull]

I wish all these exempt categories get a special zero fastag and pass like other vehicles. I'm sick of people stopping, flashing ID cards and take longer to pass. This allows more people to try different tricks to pass, even if they are not qualified. Except Ambulance, everyone should get a fastag and there should be no option to open gate for any other reasons.

[Mustang Sammy]

Originally Posted by SmartCat

All of us will stop complaining if -

(14) Teambhp members

is added to the list.

We are honest taxpayers who will never shirk from our responsibilities to pay for the national infrastructure, right?

We also never break traffic rules, that one S-Cross driver with a TBHP sticker who overtook from the shoulder of the Mumbai-Pune expressway this morning excepted…

[Samurai]

The exemption list for non-essential people is not at all about convenience or saving money. It is about privilege and the show of privilege. They want to show off that they are truly above us riff-raff.

For me it is indicative of the unwillingness to let go the feudal habits of the bygone era.

[Capri89]

It is better that everyone pay, without exception.

Those who can and eligible can get it reimbursed, if necessary, through their appropriate accounting channels.

No flashing id cards, no special stickers, no arguments. Saves everyone from so many hastles.

[DHARM]

Originally Posted by Samurai

The exemption list for non-essential people is not at all about convenience or saving money. It is about privilege and the show of privilege. They want to show off that they are truly above us riff-raff.

For me it is indicative of the unwillingness to let go the feudal habits of the bygone era.

Absolutely, the amount is paltry for most of them & since all new cars comes with fastag it is easy to pay however the arrogance of being a public servant is into their head, how else they feel privileged? if they pay the toll then only they can realize pain of common people. its not only about money what we face but huge queues waste time & traffic chaos.

[GoBabyGo]

I think politicians are exempted because of their safety & safety of people waiting ahead or behind them at the toll booth. They are given fast exit to avoid any mishap at the toll, while they are waiting at toll gate.

[Spaced Out]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

People in our country are more concerned about the subsidies given to the poor than worrying about the freebies enjoyed by the political class.l

Thank you for stating this. If only someone added up the various privileges enjoyed by various arms of the state, including:

- official gaddi
- petrol allowance
- housing
- access to guest houses maintained by various PSUs
- access to circuit house, inspection bungalows, forest
- foreign study tours
- study abroad at Govt expense at Harvard, MIT etc

Add to this the intangible benefit of:
- never going to be fired for not doing your job

Originally Posted by INJAXN

I felt a little agitated on seeing all these government employees getting free access, but then I realized that even if they pay, they will be paying from our tax money only as far as they can say that they are on government duty, so its a moot point

In Delhi, virtually every other car is marked at Bharat Sarkar / Govt of India (front & back). I figured out why. Whenever they use NHAI, they use a lane that is closed to general traffic but opened to anyone who can show their sarkari card. This is in Delhi, UP & Uttarakhand.

Some of these cars are blatantly non-official - Kia, Hyundai, Honda etc.