The dispute began when Shyamraj, traveling through the NHAI-governed plaza, presented documentation for his wife, Lt. Col. Sivapriya S, a serving Army Nursing Officer. Despite his status as a disabled veteran and the presentation of military-affiliated papers, the toll staff insisted on a rigid interpretation of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) regulations, which traditionally prioritize serving personnel or specific categories of gallantry award winners. Highlighting his own war-sustained injuries and noting that he had received waivers at similar checkpoints in the past, a frustrated Shyamraj took his grievance to social media, tagging Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari.
While the toll operators eventually relented, allowing the vehicle to pass under a "government ID" exception, the initial resistance sparked a wave of indignation. Major Digvijay Singh Rawat was among the prominent voices from the veteran community to condemn the delay, describing the bureaucratic hurdle as a "moral failure" that prioritized revenue collection over the dignity of those who have sacrificed their physical mobility for the nation. In the aftermath of the public outcry, the toll management issued a formal apology for the friction caused during the encounter.
The regional administration has moved quickly to address the fallout. Udupi police have announced plans to conduct sensitization workshops for toll personnel to ensure that interactions with veterans and persons with disabilities are handled with greater empathy and nuance. Beyond the local resolution, the event serves as a poignant reminder of the legislative gap in current toll policies. Advocates are now calling for a formal expansion of NHAI exemptions to include all battle casualties, arguing that the recognition of service should be a standardized mandate rather than an act of discretionary "generosity" by private contractors.
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