Shillong, Nov 29: The Centre for Efficient Governance has raised concerns over a significant discrepancy in two RTI replies issued by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), PIU Shillong, to RTI appellant Rakesh Hazarika, the executive director of the think tank.
In the two replies, one dated November 1, 2024 (covering Financial Year 2023–24), and another dated September 10, 2025 (covering Calendar Year 2024), the toll revenue for all four toll plazas in Meghalaya (Pahammawlein, Diengpasoh, Pasyih and Lumshnong) has been shown as the same — Rs 50.36 crore, Rs 22.45 crore, Rs 11.25 crore and Rs 6.20 crore, respectively.
These figures being identical for two non-identical periods is highly unusual. The financial year (April 2023–March 2024) and the calendar year (January–December 2024) overlap for only nine months, making identical revenues statistically improbable, a media statement pointed out.
NHAI has been collecting tolls in Meghalaya for over a decade, yet not a single Wayside Amenities facility has been developed. This appears to be a case of prolonged neglect. Meghalaya is a tourism-driven state, and the absence of basic facilities for travellers and tourists does not augur well for the state’s overall tourism development.
~ Rakesh Hazarika, Centre for Efficient Governance
Speaking on the matter, Hazarika stated, “I have filed another RTI petition seeking to know the correct toll revenue figures. The identical amounts provided for two separate durations indicate a clear clerical or compilation error on the part of PIU Shillong, and it is necessary to establish the correct data.”
He shared the relevant documents with Meghalaya Monitor.
Hazarika also noted that such discrepancies are not isolated. “Similar inconsistencies were witnessed in RTI replies issued by PIU Guwahati regarding the Galia Toll Plaza in Assam. That matter is currently under investigation by the Central Vigilance Commission. The recurrence of such errors raises questions about the accuracy and reliability of toll revenue reporting by NHAI units,” he added.
The latest RTI reply from PIU Shillong also confirms that no Wayside Amenities (WSA) have been developed by NHAI anywhere in Meghalaya. This is despite toll operations in the state functioning for more than 11 years, with the first toll plaza at Diengpasoh commissioned in 2014.
The Centre for Efficient Governance has urged NHAI to conduct an internal review of the discrepancies and immediately begin work on establishing properly equipped Wayside Amenities across Meghalaya’s national highways.
