The Calcutta High Court has ordered the Durgapur Municipal Corporation to immediately cease its toll collection activities, declaring the practice illegal. This decision followed a petition filed by the Small and Medium Industries Association of Durgapur, which challenged the toll collection process. The petitioners argued that toll charges were being levied on commercial vehicles without any official approval from the state government or relevant authorities. They further stated that the municipality did not provide any transparent accounting or justification for the collected funds.
Durgapur Municipal Corporation had been collecting tolls at seven different locations within the city for several years. These tolls, primarily imposed on commercial vehicles, generated an estimated annual revenue of 7 crore rupees. According to the municipality, the funds collected from the tolls were used for various purposes, including paying the salaries of temporary municipal employees, funding public services, and maintaining local infrastructure. However, the Calcutta High Court ruled that toll collection could only occur with approval from the Ministry of Urban Development and other relevant authorities, which was not obtained in this case.
The court's ruling mandates that the toll collection at the seven locations in Durgapur must be halted immediately. Following this, the Durgapur Municipal Corporation issued notices at the toll plazas to inform the public about the temporary suspension of toll charges. Anindita Mukhopadhyay, the Chief Administrator of the Durgapur Municipal Corporation, stated that the municipality would apply for the necessary permissions from the Ministry of Urban Development and other relevant authorities to resume toll collection. The process of obtaining these approvals could take up to three months, as per the municipality's statement.
This ruling has raised concerns about the legality of similar toll collection practices in municipalities and district councils across West Bengal. The state has several other local bodies that have been imposing toll charges, particularly on commercial vehicles, without government authorization. These tolls are generally used to finance local government activities, such as infrastructure development, maintenance of roads, and salaries of municipal employees. However, the legality of such toll systems, especially when government approval is lacking, has now come into question.
The decision in the Durgapur case has significant implications for toll collection practices in the state. Local authorities are now under increased scrutiny to ensure their toll collection practices comply with legal requirements. The court ruling sets a precedent for future cases, emphasizing the necessity of obtaining official approval before implementing toll charges. Municipalities and district councils across West Bengal may be required to review their toll collection practices and seek the appropriate authorizations to avoid potential legal challenges in the future.