Meghalaya Congress Accuses VPP-Led KHADC of Running 25 Toll Gates Without Tenders, Demands Full Revenue Disclosure

Shillong: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Voice of the People’s Party (VPP)-dominated Executive Committee of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), alleging that it is operating an expanded network of 25 toll gates directly through its own departments in violation of established tender norms.

MPCC president and Shillong MP Vincent H. Pala claimed he was in possession of official documents from the Chief Forest Officer that confirm the Council is directly managing all 25 toll gates. “I am not speaking in the air. I have written proof,” Pala asserted.

He accused the VPP of betraying its core election promise of transparent and clean governance. “The VPP came to power promising crystal-clear administration, but today there is zero transparency and zero accountability on toll collection,” the Congress leader said.

In a damning revelation, Pala pointed out that eight of these 25 toll gates are reportedly generating no revenue at all. “If a toll gate earns nothing, why is it still operational? Why are these not put out for open tender as was done earlier?” he questioned.

The Congress leader contrasted the current practice with the previous Executive Committee, which, he said, followed a proper tendering process and obtained No-Objection Certificates from concerned villages before allowing toll collection.

Pala demanded that the VPP-led KHADC immediately make public the exact number of toll gates under its control, the total revenue earned, expenditure incurred, and the justification for directly managing gates instead of following the tender route.

“The people of the Khasi Hills deserve to know how much money is being collected and where it is going,” Pala said, adding that the Congress will continue to press for complete financial transparency from the District Council. 

The VPP is yet to respond to the allegations.

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