Is it possible for the companies (Toll Operators) to carry out Deceptive Trade Practices without the Authorities being hand in glove?

Toll Road between Ballabgarh - Sohna and Faridabad - Gurgaon managed by GF Toll Pvt Ltd (Authority: PWD B&R, Govt. of Haryana). Whether it is adapting to Deceptive Trade Practices under hand in glove with Govt. of Haryana PWD

Whether Multiple trips are being allowed at toll roads within 24 hrs.?

I am drawing attention of the daily toll users of toll roads w.r.t up and down journey using toll road specially being operated by Reliance Infrastructure. Reliance Infrastructure is involved in: 

1. Nammakal – Karur Road in Tamilnadu
2. Dindigul    – Samyanallore Road in Tamilnadu
3. Trichy       – Karur Road in Tamilnadu
4. Trichy       – Dindigul Road in Tamilnadu
5. Salem       – Ulenderpet Road in Tamilnadu
6. Gurgaon    – Faridabad Road in Haryana
7. Jaipur        - Reengus Road in Rajasthan
8. Pune         – Satara Road in Maharashtra
9. Kandla      – Mundra Road in Gujarat
10. Hosur      – Krishnagiri Road in Tamilnadu
11. Delhi       – Agra Road in Uttar Pradesh 
 

The issue as noticed and is being brought out in this post is pointing towards Deceptive Trade Practices adapted by the toll operators. Most of the toll roads have been allowed to charge amount say 'x' for single entry and almost '1.5x' for multiple trips in 24 hrs. However few of the toll users have given me the fee slip wherein it has been stated as single return journey instead of multiple trips within 24 hrs. This has been reported by users at GF Toll Pvt. Ltd being toll operator at Faridabad-Gurgaon and Ballabgarh-Sohna Road wherein the users have complained that for the 3rd entry within 24 hrs, the toll operator insists to pay another fee. Even the slip shared clearly states "single return" as against website information stating multiple trips within 24 hrs. This way the toll operator seems to be violating the approved fee structure for unethical gains. The fee being charged is for multiple trips within 24 hrs.  While as per information available on the their web site clearly indicates "Multiple Trips within 24 Hrs.", the board displayed at the toll plaza indicates either Daily Pass or Single return. While Daily Pass is from midnight to midnight, single return has been stated within 24 hrs.   

 

A communication was initiated with the toll operator by giving a feed back on their website (surprising the website does not provide any details of contact email id for sending the complaints). The response to the feedback as received from Reliance is reproduced:

"The amount you mentioned is for return journey, for multiple entries one has to take daily pass.

Thanks & Regards
Zankhana Desai

Zankhana.Desai@relianceada.comDec 28, 2018, 5:01 PM (6 days ago)

Subject	Feedback from Rinfraroads
Name	Suresh Kumar Virmani
Contact No.
Email Address.	skvirmani@gmail.com
Feedback Type	Complaint
Project Name	GF Toll Road Pvt Ltd
Feedback	As per approved rates for tolls at Ballabgarh- Sohna Road for cars, rates are Rs. 37/- for multiple entries within 24 hrs. However, the toll plaza does not allow the vehicle for more than one return.

After receiving the response on the feedback, an email was sent to the Authorities as well as Reliance Infrastructure on 28th December 2018 reproduced as below:

"This has reference to an issue of toll tax being charged from users for toll road between Ballabgarh and Sohna. As per rates fixed Rs. 37/- has been fixed for car for multiple entries within 24 hrs. Similarly rates are fixed for other type of vehicles. 

The toll executives at the toll booth does not allow the users to use the fee for more than one return trip in 24 hrs stating that the fee is applicable for just a single return journey. The slip having validity of 24 hrs also say "retrun' as attached. The vehicles have to pay another charge of Rs. 37/- if it want to cross another time. This is against the rates defined for "multiple trip' within 24 hrs. 

I shall appreciate for a clarification on this issue within 24 hrs failing which it shall be presumed that such unfair business is going on under your full knowledge and the issue will be taken up further with appropriate authorities at your risk and cost. The corrective action including display in the fee slip and boards at site need to be taken immediately but not more than 24 hrs. as public at large is affected and leading to be a financial scam. "

The toll operator has still not responded to the email and is continuing the practice till date. The similar feedback is also from Agra Expressway managed by the same company through DA Toll Road Pvt Ltd wherein the single journey fee is Rs.100/- and multiple trips within 24 hrs is Rs. 150/-. The users have informed that the actual fee slip is for single return as against multiple. 
Further a whattsapp message was also sent to Haryana PWD on their official number, the response of which advised me to contact their SE, Gurgaon but preferred not to provide any contact details despite seeking as can be seen in the screen shot. Are we ready for digital information when the Govt. of Haryana advising citizens to visit the office of SE to find out the rates of toll fee. BJP ruled Central Government has been propagating the use of Digital Technology and its own State of Haryana still advising citizens for personal visits.