New Delhi, Mar 20 (Reporter) In an unprecedented move to strengthen and establish a strong user fee collection system at toll plazas, the NHAI has banned 14 user fee collection agencies for engaging in irregular activities related to fee collection at the toll booths. Raids at the Atraila Shiv Ghulam Toll Plaza in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh was conducted by UP Special Task Force. Based on the FIR, NHAI took prompt action and served a 'show-cause notice’ to the defaulting agencies, an official statement said. The replies submitted by the fee collection agencies were not found to be satisfactory. The agencies have been debarred for a period of two years for violation of the provisions of the contract agreement. ‘Performance securities’ worth over Rs 100 crore of the defaulting agencies have been forfeited and are being encashed for breach of the contract. In order to ensure seamless operation of the toll plazas that were managed by debarred agencies, NHAI will intimate the defaulting agencies to hand over the toll plazas to a new agency that will be appointed by the authority. NHAI is committed to follow the highest standards in highway operations and any lapses will be dealt with zero tolerance. Action will be taken against the defaulters, and they will be debarred from NHAI projects with severe penalties, the statement added...////...