Toll Operators Must Salute Soldiers

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has ordered all the toll operators across India to salute and give a standing ovation to the armed forces personnel when they cross toll plazas.

In the NHAI circular, it has been mentioned that the security personnel deserve highest amount of respect as they serve the nation so the staff is supposed to salute whenever an army personnel crosses the toll plaza.

The order has come into picture after several complaints from army forces personnel that toll staff often behaves uncouthly with them and according to rules; personnel of armed forces are exempt from toll while on duty.

The circular further added that it is irrelevant to check their ID cards instead they should be provided with benefit of doubt for serving the nation NHAI chairman Deepak Kumar informed that all the toll operators have been asked to provide behavioral training to their staff for which the tourism ministry and hotel management institutions will extend their help.

This is the second circular that NHAI has issued because in February 2016, a list of instructions was already issued including a dress code according to which the toll plaza staff was supposed to wear navy blue full-sleeved shirts and trousers, sports caps and safety jackets with the name of the operator mentioned on them. But the orders were not followed properly hence the second order has been released.