Chhattisgarh govt scraps all 16 check posts after ABP News exposes illegal collection

NEW DELHI: In a major relief to truck owners, the Chhattisgarh government has announced closure of all 16 interstate check posts from midnight Tuesday. The step came in the wake of a report ABP News aired on Monday on illegal money collection by authorities on these barriers. The state's transport department through these check posts was collecting money illegally through tokens since 2004. Chief Minister Raman Singh directed transport minister to inform the media that all check-posts in Chhattisgarh will be abolished, making it a barrier-free state. Truck drivers will now be able to cross state border with any hindrance and no tax will be levied from now onwards. ABP News had on Monday in its report aired a case study of an RTO office and several other checkpoints where officials were collecting Rs. 900 per truck from drivers by giving fake slips. "The transport minister doesn't know about these tokens. We issue these on our own after checking vehicles," an RTO officer was caught as saying on camera. Truck drivers protested against this corrupt practice saying they're being charged illegally by authorities every month.