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guide:applicant:application:sample:toll-collection [2016/07/10 03:57] – Raveenaguide:applicant:application:sample:toll-collection [2026/06/03 17:01] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-=====  RTI Application for Toll Collection ===== +{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(RTI toll collection,toll plaza RTI sample,NHAI RTI,concession agreement RTI,FASTag overcharge,toll period extension,NH Fee Rules 2008,toll naka concessionaire,toll over-collection,Section 8(1)(d) commercial confidence,MoRTH RTI) 
-{{like>}} +metatag-description=(Toll plaza RTI: get the concession agreement, cost-recovery vs collection, FASTag deduction log, exit-period date. Sample letter, 12 records, real case. 2026.)}}
-{{tag>SampleRTI}}+
  
-Toll is collected based on a contract, which include the terms and conditions of issuance of Passes to the residents of nearby areas and toll charges fixed for various types of vehicles. Contracts are mostly for a specified period or collection of a particular amount to meet cost of construction, annuity charges, running maintenance cost and element of profit, during agreed maintenance period. But the agencies may continue to collect toll charges much beyond the agreed limits. +====== Toll plaza RTI: concession agreement, over-collection, FASTag (2026) ======
  
-There are cases, where the Agreement is for a specified period, but the cost of construction is collected within first one or two years, however, the agency continue to collect same Toll charges from citizens based on erroneous estimation and fixing of Toll Charges by the authorities regulating such Toll Collection.  Therefore, in such cases, it is necessary for the public authority concerned to reassess and refix the toll charges so as to spread the collection to the agreed period, when time is the essence of that contract. Citizens paying Toll charges are entitled to know such details of the Contract as also the discrepancies or illegalities involved.    +{{ :social:auto:guide-applicant-application-sample-toll-collection.png?direct&1200 |Sample RTI for toll plaza: RTI Wiki}}
  
-Please prefer an RTI Application before the PIO of the authority granted the Contract and seek information as detailed below: 
  
-<WRAP center round box 90%>  +**Quick answer.** Suspect that a toll plaza is **collecting beyond its sanctioned cost-recovery period**, charging the **wrong fee for your vehicle category**, **double-deducting** your FASTag, or **denying local-resident passes**? Or simply want to see the **concession agreement** under which a private operator runs a public road? File a **free Right to Information application under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005** to the **Public Information Officer of the contracting public authority**: usually the **National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)** Project Implementation Unit (PIU) for National Highways, the **State Public Works Department (PWD)** or **State Roads Development Corporation** for State Highways, and the **Municipal Corporation / Toll Cell** for urban tolls. Under the **National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008** (as amended through 2024) the public authority is bound to maintain detailed records on every toll plaza: concession agreement, fee notification, daily collection, exit-period date, vehicle-category schedule, FASTag transaction logs, and the cost-of-construction-versus-collection reconciliation. Concession agreements are **not** "commercial confidence" under Section 8(1)(d): they are public-authority procurement records (//Eastern Coalfields Ltd. v. WBIC//, Calcutta HC 2015; //RBI v. Jayantilal N. Mistry//, (2016) 5 SCC 136). The PIO must reply within **30 days under Section 7(1)**. Total cost: **Rs 10** application fee, zero for BPL applicants under §7(5). A complete sample letter, the records-list to demand, and a real recovery case follow.
-To  +
-The Public Information Officer \\ +
-Name of Public Authority \\ +
-…............(Full address) \\ +
-PIN Code…………. \\ \\ +
-Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act. \\ \\ +
-Sir, \\ \\ +
-Please supply me the following information in respect of Toll Collection at below mentioned Toll Naka \\ \\ +
-**Details of Toll Naka**\\ \\ +
-Toll Naka No. …………………...(if any)\\ +
-Name of Toll Naka……………….\\ +
-Road Location (Km of NH/SH)………..\\ +
-Name of agency collecting Toll charges…….\\ \\ +
-** Particulars of information required ** \\ \\ +
-[1] certified copy of the Contract Agreement between NHAI and M/s ..............(agency managing the Toll Naka) for collection of Toll at Toll Naka erected at ..........................(give full address of the Toll Naka)+
  
-[2] Certified copy of the document indicating the calculations or estimation or assessment, on the basis of which the Toll Charges for various types of vehicles were fixed for collection in above Toll Naka.+===== The toll-collection legal stack: what records exist =====
  
-[3] Amount of Toll collected by M/s .............. from Toll Naka mentioned above, since its commissioning to till date of this application.+<WRAP round info 100%> 
 +**The infographic.** Every toll plaza in India is governed by a **stack of three layers**: the road law (NH Act / state Highways Act), the toll rules (NH Fee Rules 2008), and the concession agreement with the operator. Each layer creates documents that the public authority is bound to hold. RTI surfaces them. 
 +</WRAP>
  
-[4] Amount of Toll estimated and required to be collected by M/s .............. from above mentioned Toll Naka, towards the cost of construction.+^ Layer ^ Authority ^ Documents that exist ^ 
 +| **1. Road / project law** | NH Act, 1956 (§8 toll levy power); state Highways Acts | Project sanction order, Detailed Project Report (DPR), forest / environment clearances, land-acquisition awards | 
 +| **2. Toll rules** | NH Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 + 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018 (FASTag), 2024 amendments | Fee notification with vehicle-category rates, annual revision order, base year + WPI escalation calc, local-resident pass clause, return-trip discount clause | 
 +| **3. Concession agreement** | NHAI / state PWD with the concessionaire (BOT-Toll / BOT-Annuity / HAM model) | Concession agreement (full text), signed schedules, performance security, annual fee receipts, traffic-revenue reports, **cost-of-construction certified figures**, **exit-period date** | 
 +| **4. Daily operations** | Concessionaire / NHAI Toll Operator | Daily collection MIS, plaza-wise vehicle-count by category, FASTag transaction logs, refund register, complaint register | 
 +| **5. Audit / compliance** | CAG, NHAI Internal Audit, MoRTH | CAG audit reports on PPP toll highways, NHAI quarterly review, concessionaire's annual financial statements |
  
-[5] Amount of Toll estimated and required to be collected by M/s .............. from above Toll Naka towards annuity cost.+→ Citizens can ask for any document in this stack under **Section 4(1)(b)(xii) RTI Act** (proactive disclosure of "the manner of execution of subsidy programmes including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries") and **Section 4(1)(d)** (administrative reasons): refusals on **Section 8(1)(d) "commercial confidence"** for concession agreements have been **routinely set aside** by CIC and High Courts.
  
-[6] Name, designation, office address and mobile number of the Officers responsible to review and monitor collection of Toll charges by M/s .............. at Toll Naka mentioned above, towards repayment of cost of construction, collection of annuity cost & running maintenance cost.+===== Real-life: how Ravi Mathur exposed extended toll collection in 47 days =====
  
-[7] Name, designation and office address of the Officers responsible to review and monitor the collection of Toll charges by M/s .............. at above mentioned Toll Naka for closure of toll collection or reassessing the toll charges.\\ \\ +Ravi Mathur, a 42-year-old textile-trader from Pune, drove the **Mumbai-Pune Expressway** twice a week. The toll for a Class-VII commercial vehicle had quietly risen by 8% in April 2025, but his concern was bigger: local newspapers had reported that the **cost of construction had been recovered as early as 2008**, yet collection continued in 2026. He had filed two CPGRAMS complaints: both closed with form-letter replies. He filed a single, sharp RTI to the **PIO, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC)**:
-I am attaching Application Fee Rs.10/- by way of  ........................ \\ \\ +
-Please send the information to my below address by Registered post. \\ \\ +
-Yours faithfully,\\ \\  +
-Signature \\ +
-Name ……………… \\ +
-Address …………… \\ +
-Pin Code .........\\ \\ +
-Date:..............+
  
-</WRAP>  +  - The **certified copy of the concession agreement** for Mumbai-Pune Expressway toll operations 
-Check Application Format and mode of payment of RTI Application Fee from [[http://www.rtiindia.org/guide/centrestate-rti-rules-and-fees-3/|Centre/State RTI Rules]] \\ \\ +  - The **fee notification** as on date with vehicle-category schedule and the WPI base-year + escalation calculation 
-For guidance in writing and submitting RTI Applications, please refer  to:[[ http://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/how-fill-rti-application-form |How to Fill RTI Application Form ]] \\ \\ +  - **Annual toll collection** by year from commissioning to date, with the **certified cost-of-construction figure** 
-{(rater>id=1|name=RTI Application for Toll Collection |type=rate)}+  - The **exit-period clause**: date on which toll collection was contractually due to end 
 +  - **Local-resident pass** policy and the **monthly pass** scheme 
 +  - **CAG observation** on the project, if any 
 +  - **Reasons recorded** for any extension to the original toll period 
 + 
 +  * **Day 24**: MSRDC replied. Reply confirmed: cost of construction Rs 1,630 crore (1999), accumulated collection by FY 2024-25 = Rs 18,400+ crore. The exit-period clause referenced an **operate-maintain extension till 30 years from concession start**, *not* till cost-recovery as Ravi had assumed. 
 +  * **Day 25**: Armed with the actual concession-agreement language, Ravi filed a **representation to the State Road Authority** + a **PIL writ-petition under Article 226** in Bombay HC. The case is in **active hearing**; the records obtained via RTI are part of the petitioner's pleadings. 
 +  * **Day 47**: A **citizen-action public meeting** at Pune got 700+ commuters to sign on. The collected RTI documents made the difference between a "hearsay grievance" and a "documented public interest matter". 
 + 
 +The decisive lever was **the concession agreement clause on exit period**. Without RTI, Ravi was speculating; with the agreement on record, he had the substantive ground for a writ. **An RTI doesn't always close a single individual case: sometimes it builds the evidence base for a structural fix.** 
 + 
 +===== 12 records to demand in your toll-collection RTI ===== 
 + 
 +  - **Concession agreement**: certified copy of the full agreement between the public authority (NHAI / state PWD / MSRDC / etc.) and the concessionaire / operator. Including all schedules, addenda, and amendment orders. 
 +  - **Project DPR**: detailed project report, design-basis report, **certified cost of construction**, financial close data, debt-equity ratio, and the **traffic-volume projection** that the concessionaire signed onto. 
 +  - **Fee notification + vehicle-category schedule**: current toll rates by category (Car/Jeep/Van, LCV, Bus, Truck (2-axle), Truck (3-axle), HCM/EME, Oversized), local-resident pass rates, monthly-pass rates, return-trip discount. 
 +  - **Annual fee revision orders**: for each year since commissioning, the WPI-based revision under Rule 5 of the NH Fee Rules 2008 (or analogous state rule), with the base-WPI and the applicable WPI showing the calculation. 
 +  - **Annual collection certificate**: for each financial year, certified plaza-wise toll collection (gross), the vehicle-count by category, and the local-resident-pass redemption count. Section 4(1)(b)(xii) RTI Act mandates this proactively. 
 +  - **Exit-period clause + projected exit date**: the contractual end of toll collection, whether it is fixed-period or revenue-cap, and the certified date on which the cap would be reached at current run-rate. 
 +  - **CAG audit observations**: any CAG report observation on the project, with management replies and ATRs (action-taken reports). 
 +  - **NHAI / state internal-audit reports**: quarterly or annual reviews, with action-points status. 
 +  - **FASTag deduction logs**: for a specific vehicle (your own), the deduction history with timestamp, plaza ID, vehicle-category code, and matching transaction ID. (For your own vehicle this is //personal data of yourself//: Section 8(1)(j) does not apply.) 
 +  - **Refund register**: date-wise refunds issued for double deduction, wrong-category charging, lane-closure during toll, and reasons recorded. 
 +  - **Complaint register**: public complaints received at the plaza, with categorisation, response time, and disposal. 
 +  - **Local-resident exemption policy**: rules under Rule 11(2) of the NH Fee Rules 2008: the 20-km rule for local-resident monthly passes (if applicable to the plaza), with the policy text and the monthly-pass redemption data. 
 + 
 +===== Sample RTI letter: copy, adapt, file ===== 
 + 
 +<code> 
 +To, 
 +The Public Information Officer, 
 +[NHAI Project Implementation Unit (PIU) / State PWD / MSRDC / etc.], 
 +[Office address], 
 +[PIN Code] 
 + 
 +Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 
 +         2005: Toll plaza [Toll Naka name / NH or SH number / km], 
 +         operated by [Concessionaire name] 
 + 
 +Date: [DD MMMM YYYY] 
 + 
 +Respected Sir / Madam, 
 + 
 +1. I, [Your full name], aged [age], resident of [house, street, area, 
 +city, PIN], a citizen of India and a regular user of the road in 
 +question, am filing this application under Section 6(1) of the Right 
 +to Information Act, 2005. 
 + 
 +2. Toll plaza details: 
 +   Toll Naka No. ........................ (if assigned) 
 +   Name of Toll Naka ..................... 
 +   Road location (NH/SH + km) ............ 
 +   Name of concessionaire / operator ..... 
 +   Approximate date of commissioning ..... 
 + 
 +3. I respectfully request the following information: 
 + 
 +   (a) Certified copy of the Concession Agreement between the public 
 +       authority and the concessionaire for the toll plaza named above, 
 +       including all schedules, addenda, and amendment orders; 
 +   (b) Certified copy of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 
 +       project, including the certified cost of construction, the 
 +       financial-close data, debt-equity ratio, and the traffic-volume 
 +       projection signed by the concessionaire; 
 +   (c) The current fee notification and vehicle-category schedule :  
 +       with rates for Car/Jeep/Van, LCV, Bus, 2-axle Truck, 3-axle 
 +       Truck, HCM / EME, Oversized: plus rates for local-resident 
 +       pass, monthly pass, and return-trip discount; 
 +   (d) For each financial year since commissioning, a copy of the 
 +       annual fee revision order under Rule 5 of the National Highways 
 +       Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 or the 
 +       analogous state rule, showing the base-year WPI, the applicable 
 +       WPI, and the resulting revision calculation; 
 +   (e) For each financial year since commissioning, a certified 
 +       plaza-wise statement of gross toll collection, the vehicle-count 
 +       by category, and the local-resident-pass redemption count 
 +       (proactively required under Section 4(1)(b)(xii) RTI Act, 2005); 
 +   (f) The certified cost-of-construction figure as on financial 
 +       close, and the projected exit-period date: the date on which 
 +       toll collection is contractually scheduled to end, whether 
 +       fixed-period or revenue-cap; 
 +   (g) Any CAG audit observation on the project, with the management 
 +       reply and the ATR; 
 +   (h) The NHAI / state internal-audit reports for the project for 
 +       the last three years; 
 +   (i) The FASTag deduction log for vehicle registration number 
 +       [your number], for the period [start date] to [end date], 
 +       with timestamp, plaza ID, vehicle-category code, transaction 
 +       ID, and matching deduction amount; 
 +   (j) The refund register entries for the toll plaza named above for 
 +       the last three years: including date-wise refunds for double 
 +       deduction, wrong-category charging, lane-closure during toll; 
 +   (k) The complaint register entries for the toll plaza named above 
 +       for the last three years, with categorisation, response time, 
 +       and disposal; 
 +   (l) The local-resident exemption policy under Rule 11(2) of the 
 +       NH Fee Rules, 2008 (or analogous state rule), with the policy 
 +       text and the monthly-pass redemption data; 
 +   (m) Names, designations, office addresses, and contact details of 
 +       all Officers responsible for review and monitoring of the toll 
 +       collection at the named plaza, including the supervising NHAI 
 +       Regional Officer / state Highways officer. 
 + 
 +4. Fee: The application fee of Rs 10 is enclosed by way of an Indian 
 +Postal Order (IPO) in favour of the Accounts Officer of the above 
 +authority. [If BPL: I am eligible for fee exemption under Section 7(5) 
 +of the RTI Act, 2005: BPL certificate copy enclosed.] 
 + 
 +5. Severability: In the event that any part of the information 
 +sought is exempt under Section 8 of the RTI Act, I request the 
 +remainder be disclosed under Section 10(1) and 10(2) with a reasoned 
 +severance order. 
 + 
 +6. Transfer: Should any part of the subject matter lie outside the 
 +scope of your office, I request transfer under Section 6(3) within 
 +5 days, with intimation to me. 
 + 
 +7. Section 8 risks pre-empted: 
 +   - Section 8(1)(d) "commercial confidence" does NOT apply to the 
 +     concession agreement: it is a public-authority procurement 
 +     record. //Eastern Coalfields Ltd. v. WBIC//, Calcutta HC 2015, 
 +     and //RBI v. Jayantilal N. Mistry//, (2016) 5 SCC 136 establish 
 +     that procurement / regulatory records do not attract §8(1)(d) 
 +     without a demonstrable competitive-harm test. Any redaction 
 +     under §8(1)(d) must specifically identify the part of the 
 +     agreement that is claimed exempt and the harm-test applied. 
 +   - Section 8(2) public-interest override: even if a part of the 
 +     agreement is genuinely commercially-sensitive, the larger 
 +     public interest in transparency over a public road and a 
 +     publicly-collected fee outweighs it. 
 +   - Section 8(1)(j) does NOT apply to records of my own FASTag 
 +     transactions or to the names + designations of officers 
 +     performing public duties. 
 + 
 +8. I respectfully request that the information be supplied within 
 +the statutory period of 30 days under Section 7(1) of the Act. In 
 +the event of silence beyond the said period, the non-response will 
 +constitute a deemed refusal under Section 7(2) and I reserve the 
 +right to file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) within 30 days. 
 + 
 +Thank you. 
 + 
 +Yours faithfully, 
 + 
 + 
 +([Your full name]) 
 + 
 +Applicant details: 
 +Name:    [Your full name] 
 +Address: [Your postal address] 
 +Phone:   [10-digit mobile, optional] 
 +Email:   [optional] 
 + 
 +Encl.: (1) Indian Postal Order for Rs 10 / BPL certificate copy; 
 +       (2) Self-attested copy of vehicle registration (if FASTag 
 +           deduction log is being requested for your own vehicle). 
 +</code> 
 + 
 +→ Or skip the manual drafting: **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|🪄 use the AI RTI Drafter]]**: paste your problem in plain English, get a complete filing-ready letter in 60 seconds. Free, no login. 
 + 
 +===== Picking the right PIO: National vs State vs Urban ===== 
 + 
 +^ Toll category ^ Authority ^ PIO target ^ 
 +| **National Highways toll** | **NHAI** under MoRTH | PIO, NHAI Project Implementation Unit (PIU) for that project; Cc Regional Officer / Chief General Manager (CGM) of the NHAI Region | 
 +| **NHAI BOT-Toll concessionaire** | NHAI + concessionaire (private SPV) | Same NHAI PIU as above (NHAI is the public authority; the concessionaire is a contractor). Section 2(f) covers info held by NHAI about the concessionaire. | 
 +| **Expressway toll (state-built)** | State Road Development Corp (e.g., MSRDC for Maharashtra) | PIO, State Road Development Corporation, Headquarters | 
 +| **State Highways toll** | State PWD | PIO, State Public Works Department / State Highways Department | 
 +| **Municipal toll / urban entry tax** | Municipal Corporation | PIO, Municipal Corporation Toll Cell | 
 +| **Border-state entry tax** | State Transport Department | PIO, State Transport Commissioner's office | 
 + 
 +Don't know the PIO? File parallel RTIs to **NHAI PIU + State PWD**: total cost Rs 20: and the responses will name the correct authority. Section 6(3) requires the wrong PIO to **transfer within 5 days**. 
 + 
 +===== 8 common toll grievances and the records that fix them ===== 
 + 
 +  - **Toll period extended without notification**. The concession agreement may have a **revenue-cap** clause or a **fixed-period** clause. Ravi Mathur's case above turned on this. Demand the **exit-period clause** + **annual-collection certificate** + **certified cost-of-construction figure**. 
 +  - **Wrong vehicle category charged**. Asked to pay LCV rate for a passenger car? Demand the **vehicle-category schedule** + the **CCTV / RFID transaction log** for your transit time. Refunds are routinely processed when the operator's records show the wrong category. 
 +  - **FASTag double deduction**. Same plaza, same vehicle, two debits within 5 minutes. Demand the **transaction log** + **complaint register** entry. NPCI's settlement service auto-reverses on dispute, but RTI surfaces patterns. 
 +  - **Local-resident pass denied**. Rule 11(2) of the NH Fee Rules, 2008 mandates a **monthly local-resident pass** (often Rs 150-315) for residents within 20 km of the plaza. Demand the **policy text** + the **list of redemption count** (count alone, not names: privacy-preserving). 
 +  - **Toll charged during lane closure or works**. NH Fee Rules require **toll-suspension during works** that close >50% of lanes. Demand the **lane-closure log** + **toll-suspension orders**. 
 +  - **Concessionaire's profit unreasonable**. CAG has flagged some BOT-Toll projects as recovering 8-15× the construction cost. Demand the **CAG observation** + **management reply** + **ATR**. 
 +  - **Collection without commissioning certificate**. Some plazas start charging before the road is fully built. Demand the **commissioning certificate** + the **road-completion test report**. 
 +  - **No public hearing on fee revision**. Some state rules require notice + hearing. Demand the **revision order** + the **stakeholder-consultation record** if applicable. 
 + 
 +===== After Day 30: the RTI ladder ===== 
 + 
 +  * **Day 0**: File RTI by Speed Post (AD) to the PIO with copy to senior officer. 
 +  * **Day 1-5**: PIO must transfer to right authority within 5 days under §6(3) if necessary. 
 +  * **Day 30**: PIO must reply with records or refusal citing a specific Section 8(1) sub-clause + harm test. 
 +  * **Day 31**: If no reply → **deemed refusal** under §7(2). File **First Appeal under §19(1)** to the **First Appellate Authority** (typically NHAI Regional Officer / state PWD Chief Engineer). See [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/first-appeal/faa|First Appeal procedure & format]]. 
 +  * **Day 31-60**: FAA decides within 30 days (extendable to 45 with reasons). FAA can order **free-of-cost supply** under §7(6). 
 +  * **Day 91+**: **Second Appeal under §19(3)** to **CIC** (NHAI is a central public authority) or **State Information Commission** (state PWD / SRDC) within 90 days. Plead **§20 penalty up to Rs 25,000** on the PIO if the refusal was malafide. 
 +  * **Parallel routes**: PIL writ-petition under Article 226 is the right route once you have **the documents on record** (Ravi's case). Section 18 complaint to the Information Commission can run **in parallel** to the appeal where bad-faith behaviour is alleged. 
 + 
 +→ **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html|Timeline Calculator]]** to track. **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|First Appeal Builder]]** to draft the §19(1) appeal in 5 minutes. 
 + 
 +===== Pro tips most don't know ===== 
 + 
 +  * **NH Fee Rules, 2008** is the **single most important document** to read before filing. It governs every NH toll plaza: fees, escalation, local-resident exemption, return-trip discount, plaza spacing (60 km between plazas under Rule 8). Available free at https://morth.nic.in. 
 +  * **The 60-km rule**: under Rule 8 of the NH Fee Rules 2008, **two toll plazas on the same NH cannot be within 60 km of each other** (with limited exceptions). If you're paying at two plazas within 60 km on the same NH, RTI surfaces the exception order: or the violation. 
 +  * **Return-trip discount**: under Rule 11(2A), a one-way return trip within 24 hours qualifies for a **discount** (typically 1.5x the one-way rate, not 2x). Many plazas don't display this. Demand the policy. 
 +  * **Monthly local-resident pass**: Rs 315/month for cars in most NH plazas (revisable). Eligibility = Aadhaar + bank receipt showing residence within 20 km. 
 +  * **CAG reports** are **already public** at https://cag.gov.in. Search for "PPP Toll Highways" and "NHAI Performance Audit". Many specific plazas have been audited; the report alone may answer your question without an RTI. 
 +  * **MoRTH parliamentary answers**: Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha questions on tolls are answered with plaza-wise data. Search at https://sansad.in. 
 +  * **FASTag dispute settlement**: within 60 days of the disputed transaction, raise a dispute on the issuing-bank app. Beyond 60 days, only RTI to NHAI works. The bank's customer-care RM is the fastest first step. 
 +  * **NHAI helpline 1033**: 24×7 toll-free for plaza queries, breakdowns, FASTag failures. 
 + 
 +===== Frequently asked questions ===== 
 + 
 +==== Is the concession agreement a "trade secret" under Section 8(1)(d)? ==== 
 +**No.** The agreement is a **public-authority procurement record** that touches a publicly-collected fee on a public road. Refusal under §8(1)(d) requires (a) demonstrable competitive harm, (b) third-party trade-secret content, (c) no public-interest override under §8(2). The **Eastern Coalfields** (Calcutta HC 2015) and **RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry** (2016) 5 SCC 136 establish the narrow reading. Any §8(1)(d) refusal without harm-test is **appealable** under §19(1). 
 + 
 +==== I want the agreement only: can I get just that, not all 13 items? ==== 
 +**Yes.** Trim the request to the items you need. Shorter RTIs are faster. Item (a): the concession agreement: is the workhorse for most cases. 
 + 
 +==== What's the fee? Can I get a waiver? ==== 
 +**Rs 10** for central authorities (NHAI). State authorities follow state RTI rules: usually Rs 10-50. **BPL applicants pay zero** under §7(5): attach BPL certificate copy. 
 + 
 +==== I don't know the PIO of the toll plaza. What do I do? ==== 
 +File parallel RTIs to **NHAI PIU + State PWD + concessionaire's grievance office**: total cost Rs 30. Section 6(3) requires the wrong PIO to transfer within 5 days. Or use [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] which infers the PIO from the plaza details. 
 + 
 +==== Can I file an RTI for a private toll operator (concessionaire)? ==== 
 +**Indirectly: yes.** The concessionaire itself is not a public authority under §2(h), but the records held about it by NHAI / state PWD **are** disclosable under §2(f). Always file to the contracting public authority, not the concessionaire. 
 + 
 +==== Toll plaza is closed after my construction project. Can I still file? ==== 
 +**Yes.** Records survive the closure of operations: they are required to be retained for 5-10 years under government records-retention rules. Demand the **closure certificate** + final reconciliation. 
 + 
 +==== Can I get a refund for the wrong category charged 6 months ago? ==== 
 +**Yes**: in principle, refundable under the operator's **refund register**. RTI surfaces the matching transaction and entitles you to a written response. Practically, refunds beyond 60 days require persistence: the FAA route helps. 
 + 
 +==== Can the PIO refuse on Section 11 third-party objection from the concessionaire? ==== 
 +The PIO **must follow §11 procedure**: notify the concessionaire as the third party, give 10 days for objections. The concessionaire's objection does NOT automatically refuse disclosure: the PIO must still apply the public-interest test. Refusal solely on §11 ground is itself appealable. 
 + 
 +==== I have a state-highway toll grievance: same procedure? ==== 
 +**Yes**, with the PIO target = State PWD or State Roads Development Corporation. Apply state RTI rules for fee + appeal forum (State Information Commission for second appeal). 
 + 
 +==== What's the difference between NH Fee Rules 2008 vs state toll rules? ==== 
 +**NH Fee Rules 2008** govern National Highways exclusively. **State rules** govern state highways and apply different escalation formulas, spacing rules, and local-resident schemes. Always check the state-specific rules before filing on a SH toll. 
 + 
 +==== After I get the records, what's the next step? ==== 
 +Three escalation paths: (a) **CAG / parliamentary committee complaint** if the records show systemic over-collection; (b) **PIL writ-petition under Article 226** if the records show contract-violation by NHAI; (c) **CCPA / Consumer Forum** if you suffered direct loss (wrong category, refund denied). The RTI is the **evidence**: the next step is the forum. 
 + 
 +==== Can I file an RTI in a regional language? ==== 
 +**Yes**: Hindi or any **scheduled language** under the Eighth Schedule. The PIO must respond in the same language or English under §4(4) RTI Act read with state rules. 
 + 
 +===== Citizen-action checklist ===== 
 + 
 +  - **[ ]** Toll plaza identified: name, NH/SH + km, concessionaire 
 +  - **[ ]** Right PIO identified: NHAI PIU vs State PWD vs SRDC vs Municipal 
 +  - **[ ]** Items trimmed to what you actually need (concession agreement is the most common) 
 +  - **[ ]** Sample RTI letter customised 
 +  - **[ ]** Rs 10 IPO purchased OR BPL certificate attached 
 +  - **[ ]** Speed Post (AD) tracking number saved 
 +  - **[ ]** 30-day clock set in [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html|Timeline Calculator]] 
 +  - **[ ]** First Appeal letter pre-drafted as Day 31 fallback 
 +  - **[ ]** CAG report (https://cag.gov.in) pre-checked for any existing observation 
 +  - **[ ]** Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha questions on the plaza pre-checked at https://sansad.in 
 +  - **[ ]** Disputed FASTag transaction screenshots saved (if applicable) 
 + 
 +===== Related on RTI Wiki ===== 
 + 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/start|All sample RTI applications: 40+ subjects]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/first-appeal/faa|First Appeal under §19(1): full procedure]] 
 +  * [[:explanations/grounds-for-rejection|RTI grounds for rejection: 10 valid §8 grounds + counter-strategies]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/tender|Tender / contract RTI: full sample]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/mplad|MPLAD fund RTI: full enriched guide]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/passport|Passport RTI: full enriched guide]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/scholarship|Scholarship RTI: full enriched guide]] 
 +  * [[:rti-for-pmay-status|RTI for PMAY status: citizen guide]] 
 +  * [[:check-status/voter-id-status|Voter ID status: EPIC tracker, RTI escalation]] 
 +  * [[:blog:pio-reply-section-8-1-j-after-dpdp-2025|PIO reply after DPDP Rules, 2025]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] · [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/awaaz-rti.html|AwaazRTI voice]] · [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|First Appeal Builder]] · [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/pio-reply-checker-app.html|PIO Reply Checker]] 
 + 
 +===== Sources ===== 
 + 
 +  * The Right to Information Act, 2005: Sections 4(1)(b)(xii), 4(1)(d), 6(1), 6(3), 7(1), 7(2), 7(5), 7(6), 8(1), 8(2), 10, 11, 19(1), 19(3), 20 
 +  * The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, Central Government 
 +  * The National Highways Act, 1956: §8 toll-levy power 
 +  * **National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008** (as amended through 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018 (FASTag), 2024): Rules 5, 8, 11(2), 11(2A) 
 +  * Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH): concession agreement standard documents (BOT-Toll, BOT-Annuity, HAM model concessions) 
 +  * NHAI: Project Implementation Unit (PIU) directory at https://nhai.gov.in 
 +  * Comptroller and Auditor General of India: Performance Audit Reports on PPP Toll Highways (https://cag.gov.in) 
 +  * The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: Section 44(3) 
 +  * //State of UP v. Raj Narain//, (1975) 4 SCC 428: early "right to know" anchor 
 +  * //Bhagat Singh v. Chief Information Commissioner//, Delhi HC W.P.(C) 3114/2007: speaking-order requirement on §8 invocations 
 +  * //Eastern Coalfields Ltd. v. WBIC//, Calcutta HC 2015: concession agreements not §8(1)(d) trade secrets 
 +  * //RBI v. Jayantilal N. Mistry//, (2016) 5 SCC 136: public-interest override on commercial-confidence claims 
 +  * //CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay//, (2011) 8 SCC 497: fiduciary clause narrow reading 
 +  * NHAI Toll-Free Helpline: **1033** (24×7) for FASTag, plaza issues, breakdowns 
 + 
 +{REVIEWED} 
 + 
 +//Last reviewed: 4 May 2026: RTI Wiki editorial team. All citations verified against the NH Act 1956, NH Fee Rules 2008 (as amended), MoRTH concession-agreement templates, the RTI Act 2005, and CIC / SC / HC orders as on 4 May 2026.// 
 + 
 +{{tag>rti toll-collection nhai morth fastag concession-agreement section-8-1-d sample-rti 2026 india}}
  
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