An Open Letter to Shri Deepak Kumar, Chairman NHAI on Monster, Taj

Mahal Signs at NHAI Toll Booths Depicting VIP Culture!

23 September 2017

Shri Deepak Kumar (Personal Attention)

Chairman,
National Highway Authority of India
G-5 & 6, Sector-10
Dwarka, New Delhi 110 075

Subject: Monster, Taj Mahal Signs at NHAI Toll Booths Depicting VIP
Culture!

Dear Shri Deepak Kumar:

As we approach NHAI toll booths we see a battery of monster (very large size), Taj
Mahal (very expensive) signs. These signs not only depict our VIP culture but also
demonstrate the wastage of public money by the government. One sign gives a list of
25 dignitaries (VIPs) who are exempt from toll tax. The other sign gives a list of
vehicles which are exempt from toll tax. These signs are then repeated in a second
language. So, there are 4 signs on one side of the toll booth, that is, eight signs per toll
booth.

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It is hard to believe that the estimated cost of these signs on both sides of a typical toll
booth is about 14 lakhs. This is because these giant signs require an elaborate deep
foundation and the signs also require approved, costly reflective material. At the
present time, there are 449 toll booths in India on national highways. We are building
more. So, we have wasted estimated over 62 crores on erecting these unnecessary,
expensive road signs as would be evident from the following Q and A prepared by
me:

Q1: Have you seen somebody stopping and reading these giant signs?
A1: No. Those who are exempted from paying toll already know about it because the
government notified their offices. Those who are not VIPs or dignitaries like me
already know their name or designation is not listed there. It is simply an exercise in
futility.

Q2: Have you seen such monster signs in any other country of the world?
A2: Not really. I have travelled in North America, South America, Europe, China, and
Australia. I have not seen such huge signs. Usually, all people including VIPs pay the
toll, get the receipt, and then claim the amount as their travel expense. There is no
VIP culture there.

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Q3: Then why in India do we erect these monster, expensive signs at toll booths?
A3: We in India sometimes do not use commonsense. I guess some bureaucrat(s)
inserted in the Government of India Official Gazette that these exemption signs
should be displayed prominently at the toll booths. We are literally and foolishly
following that proclamation.

Q4: What should we do now?

A4: Just stop and do not waste public money any more on these giant Taj Mahals.
Even to read these giant signs one must stop, get out of car, and then take time to go
through the list. It can be done with equal ease in case of small signs. In any case, as
mentioned earlier, nobody is going to stop to read the signs, large or small. Revise the
Official Gazette if needed.

Sir, since you are leading NHAI, it should be a matter of serious concern to you. We
have already wasted over 62 crores, please stop the wastage now.

This open letter is being shared by me with over 2000 highway engineers via email
across India. I believe most of them agree with me. I would like to share your
response with them.

Please respond as soon as possible preferably within one month. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Prof. Prithvi Singh Kandhal

Karanpura House
50 Raj Bhawan Road
Civil Lines, Jaipur 302 006
e-mail: pkandhal@gmail.com
Home page: www.eng.auburn.edu/users/kandhps

Those who resist change will become irrelevant in the 21st Century.
Narendra Modi

CC: Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PMO Office

Hon. Minister Nitin Gadkari, MORTH
Hon. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, Niti Aayog, New Delhi
Comptroller and Auditor General of India, New Delhi