Toll booth attendants in Gurugram continue to feel insecure while dispensing their duty at the city toll booths. Incidents of violence against many attendants have been reported several times from Gurugram-Faridabad and Kherki Daula toll plazas.
In the past two months, several incidents which include a shootout, kidnapping and various physical assaults on the toll booth attendants have taken place in the Millennium City.
Various toll attendants highlight that there is often a lurking danger of violence in dealing with aggressive customers. They stated that often customers, who are not willing to pay the toll amount, argue with the attendants in order to intimidate them. Also, they echoed that all the toll booth attendants continue to bear the ire of local commuters, who even accuse them of harassment.
"A major problem is faced while dealing with local commuters. As per rules, we are not allowed to charge them. However, they have to show a proper identity. As most of the people do not carry proper identity cards, the fact that we ask them for payment angers them and they start abusing us or, in some cases, now physically assault us," said a toll booth attendant.
"Our vulnerability has further increased as most of the people who abuse us and physically assault us get away because of their influence. Meanwhile, we have to bear the brunt," added the attendant.
Commenting upon the rising incidents of violence in the city toll booths, R S Rathee of Gurugram Citizens Council said: "I detest the rising incidents of violence against the toll booth attendants. Yet, the fact remains that there is a growing animosity against toll booths, especially at the Kherki Daula toll booth, and citizens want it to be removed. Even as the Government has ensured that the Kherki Daula toll booth will be removed, there is just no action on the ground and all the commuters feel angry when they pay a high amount each time at the toll."
The Gurugram Citizens Council and various industrial associations in the city have demanded the immediate removal of the Kherki Daula toll plaza.
While commenting on the law and order situation, a senior official from Gurugram Police highlighted the fact that safety and security of the toll booth attendants are being taken care of by the police. However, this claim was rejected by most of the toll booth attendants.