The West Bengal government has ordered the immediate closure of all unauthorised toll gates, drop gates, and barricaded collection points across the state that were reportedly operational during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime. The directive, issued on 13 May 2026 by new Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, applies to every district in the state and takes effect immediately.

What the Order Says

Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal's order states: "All toll gates, drop gates, barricaded structures and operational collection points, from which vehicular traffic is operating across the district of West Bengal, which have not been duly approved/authorised by the competent authority of the Government of West Bengal, shall be closed with immediate effect."

The order further directs that "any collection of fees, charges, or levies at such unauthorised points shall cease forthwith." District Magistrates across all districts have been tasked with identifying such unauthorised structures, ensuring their removal, and preventing their re-establishment without proper authorisation.

Deadline for Compliance

District Magistrates have been instructed to compile a full list — covering both legal and illegal toll collection points — and submit it to the Under Secretary by 12 noon on 15 May 2026. The order warns that failure to comply will result in fixing of individual responsibility. Officials have also been asked to simultaneously ascertain a verified list of all legitimately authorised toll collection points in their jurisdictions.

Background: The Unauthorised Toll Menace

During the previous Trinamool Congress administration, unauthorised toll gates reportedly mushroomed primarily on state highways across West Bengal. According to complaints received over the years, these collection points were allegedly run by ruling party leaders and local strongmen. Truck operators, bus operators, and private vehicle passengers were reportedly stopped and forced to pay fees without any receipt being issued — a practice critics described as systematic extortion.

Despite repeated complaints from transporters and commuters, the previous administration was accused of failing to act. The complaints, according to reports, largely went unaddressed, with no meaningful initiative taken to dismantle these structures.

New Government's Stance

After assuming charge as Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari had promised an unbiased administration and pledged to eliminate extortion-linked activities across the state. This order is seen as one of the first concrete administrative steps toward fulfilling that commitment. Notably, this is also among the earliest major directives issued by the new Chief Secretary, signalling the new government's intent to move quickly on governance reforms.

With compliance deadlines set for 15 May 2026, the coming days will test whether district-level machinery moves swiftly enough to dismantle what critics say was an entrenched and politically protected network of unauthorised toll collection.