Exempt journalists from toll tax: MDJA

Memorandum submitted to MP Pratap Simha 

Mysore/Mysuru: The Mysuru District Journalist Association ( MDJA) has written to Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha to take measures to give free access to journalists at all toll plazas in the district to facilitate their unhindered movement.

In a memorandum submitted to the MP, the MDJA office-bearers have requested him to use his good offices and convince the National Highways Authority if India (NHAI) — that maintains the toll plazas — to consider identity cards of media house or of the MDJA to exempt journalists from paying the toll for their vehicles. 

These identity cards that have already been issued by the media houses and the MDJA must be considered valid and toll exemption must be given to journalists who are in possession of the card, the memorandum stated. 

MDJA General Secretary M. Subramanya said that journalists travel across the city and district on professional assignments and there are many journalists hailing from rural areas working in Mysuru. They should be exempted from paying toll. 

MDJA President S.T. Ravikumar said that the MP has promised to take up the matter with NHAI authorities and would hand over the memorandum to the toll plaza management through the NHAI authorities.

Fake post

Meanwhile some days ago, there were many social media posts that claimed that journalists will be exempted from paying toll tax at every toll plaza in the country for which ID proof will be needed. 

Dismissing the claims, the Government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check wing said that the message was fake.

It further stated that no such announcement has been made by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The PIB launched a fact-checking unit to identify misinformation related to the Government’s policies and schemes that are circulating on various social media platforms.