Toll plaza in West Bardhaman runs without tender for 10 years, sparks corruption allegations

The Rupanarayanpur Toll Plaza, located at the Jharkhand-Bengal border in West Bardhaman district, has been operating without a tender process for over 10 years, sparking concerns over transparency and proper revenue management. The toll plaza, which has been under the West Bardhaman District Council’s control, last issued a tender for the toll collection contract on November 26, 2013. This contract, valid for one year, ended on November 25, 2014, with a total value of ₹22.5 lakh. Since then, no new tenders have been issued, but the toll collection work has been continuously assigned to the same agency, reportedly at a higher fee each time.

According to official records, the last tender issued in 2013 was the only documented contract available at the district council’s office. The district council has not made available any details regarding any new agreements, lease extensions, or additional contracts, raising questions about the ongoing toll collection practices. The lack of a fresh tender process has led to claims of irregularities and a lack of proper oversight in how funds are being managed at the toll plaza.

The situation came to light when a local resident, Gobordhan Mondal, filed a Right to Information (RTI) request seeking clarification on the toll plaza’s tendering process. In response, the district council's SPIU (Special Purpose Implementation Unit) Secretary confirmed that only documents from the 2013-2014 period were available, and no further records of tenders, extensions, or lease agreements could be found. The RTI response did not clarify why tenders were not issued after 2014 or why the same agency continued to handle toll collection.

Further complicating matters, there have been reports from drivers using the toll plaza about irregularities in toll collection. Several drivers stated that although they paid the toll, they were not provided with receipts, raising concerns about the accountability and tracking of the funds collected. Others noted that the toll for smaller vehicles has been set at ₹30, which is higher than the officially stated toll rates for such vehicles. These discrepancies have drawn attention to the lack of documentation and clear financial records at the toll plaza.

Local political figures have responded to the situation, with V Shibdason, the district president of the TMC, acknowledging that he was aware of the issue and assuring that efforts would be made to ensure proper revenue collection. BJP’s Bappa Chattopadhyay criticized the lack of action on the matter, labeling it as a case of "corruption" and accusing the administration of neglecting the issue until it was exposed through an RTI request.

The toll plaza, which plays a crucial role in managing traffic between Jharkhand and West Bengal, continues to operate under the district council’s oversight. However, there has been no official announcement about the future of the toll plaza or whether any new tenders will be issued. Despite ongoing contract extensions with the same agency, there remains a lack of clarity on the terms, including the financial arrangements and the total amount collected over the years.