In order to show respect, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has asked the booth operators at the toll to stand and salute whenever army officials pass by. They have asked the senior officials to check the identity cards provided by the army men. The authority has been asked to train the staff in saluting army personnel.

Why this happened?

The order came after the NHAI received complaints from the armed forces that the toll operators are often rude and misbehave while talking to them. As per the law, army personnel on duty are exempt from paying the toll.

According to The Times Of India report, the circular said, “It is needless to emphasise that considering the extreme sacrifice of armed forces to the nation, in case of doubt with respect to nature of their official duty, the benefit of the doubt should be given appropriately to armed forces personnel."

NHAI chairman Deepak Kumar said, “Toll operators have been asked to provide behavioural training to their personnel to do so. Moreover, we are planning to provide this training with the help of tourism ministry and their hotel management institutions.”