No 12-hour slip at toll plazas: HMDA

Hyderabad: For some time now, rumours have been circulating on social media that citizens could travel multiple times with 12-hour slips available at toll counters. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority, however, after confirming with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has made it clear that there were no such slips across the country and they were issuing single trip and multiple trip slips which would be valid for 24 hours.

A message has been circulating on Whatsapp, “Whenever you pay toll at a tollbooth, they ask you whether you wish to pay for one side or 2 sides (going and coming back). Tell them that you wish to pay for 12 hours. If you come back within 12 hours, there is no toll. The ticket stamps the time as well. The toll administration(s) makes lakhs of rupees by cheating citizens due to lack of awareness of this rule. Please educate and inform others --- Nitin Gadkari, Indian Government.”

This message has even rattled the HMDA authorities who immediately verified with NHAI. After confirming with NHAI officials, an HMDA official said that the validity of a single trip slip ends as the vehicle crosses the toll plaza. He said at the same time, multiple trip slips were to come and go within 24 hours only. Multiple slip rent would be nearly one and half times more than the single trip. “There is no such slip in NHAI user fee agreement for 12 hours. HMDA requests citizens not to believe rumours going viral.