Despite high revenue, toll operations in north Kashmir lack safety protocols

Baramulla, Nov 3: Despite municipal bodies in north Kashmir earning crores of rupees annually from toll collection point auctions, there are no safety guidelines or operational protocols for the workers managing these posts—putting their lives and those of commuters at constant risk.

Every financial year, municipal councils and committees lease out these toll collection points for hefty sums, generating significant revenue. However, while allotting these sites to contractors, authorities fail to specify any safety measures or instructions on managing vehicle flow during the collection of entry or exit fees.

Contractors, in turn, hire untrained workers to collect tolls, often under strict instructions not to miss any vehicle—regardless of the risk involved. Without proper training, many of these workers stop vehicles haphazardly, sometimes in the middle of busy roads, creating dangerous situations that have already led to fatal incidents.

Recently, a toll collector was crushed to death while attempting to stop a speeding vehicle at Noorbagh in Sopore, Baramulla district—an incident that underscored the lack of safety standards and protective measures for these workers.

Many of these municipal toll posts also lack basic infrastructure such as barricades or reflective signs, forcing operators to stand directly on the road. “We have neither safety gear nor insurance. Out of desperation, we do this risky job, even during late hours,” said a young toll collector from Baramulla.

“Rash driving is common near these points. Each shift feels like a gamble with our lives.”

Locals and workers alike have urged the administration to lay down strict operational and safety guidelines. “If municipal bodies and contractors are earning crores every year, the least they can do is ensure safe working conditions,” said a resident, adding that the Noorbagh tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for the authorities.