Confessions of a Toll Booth Collector

“Some of those who drive luxury cars have no respect for smaller vehicles. I often give them torn notes to teach them a lesson.”

As a toll collector on the Delhi Noida Direct (DND) Flyway, I deal with an average daily traffic of 1.2 lakh vehicles. It requires high levels of patience and tolerance. You have to document the details of the vehicles that take the DND and maintain a record of all toll evaders. If you miss out on some details, then your supervisor gives you hell. 

When my knees cramp up after sitting in one place for eight continuous hours, I just want to whack the next cranky driver. And in winters, when the chilly winds blow into my booth, I can’t help feeling envious of all these rich brats who come in with their heated cars. Most people behave as if they are doing me a personal favour by paying the toll. And during the night shift, when my eyes are heavy with sleep, inevitably some drunk driver will try to speed through the toll. 

Nevertheless, working in a toll booth gives you a great opportunity to observe people. Some of those who drive long luxury cars have no respect for smaller vehicles. I have often seen them edging out autorickshaws and bikers to get ahead in line. They also tend to be rude to toll collectors. I often give them torn, ragged notes to teach them a lesson. 

There are some cranky old ladies who simply hate waiting. They will hand you a Rs 1,000 note and expect the change in a couple of seconds. My colleagues and I have assigned nicknames to some of these women. Our current favourite is ‘mehengayi daayan’ (inspired by Peepli Live), who always starts a lecture on inflation and how the toll money is eating into her salary. 

I have practically no life of my own—after work, I go home and study. I have enrolled for a long-distance MBA; hopefully when that’s completed, I can bid this booth farewell. My girlfriend works in a BPO, so by the time my work gets over, she is on her way to office. I hardly ever get to see her.

(He has been working at Delhi’s DND toll booth for the past six months)

As told to Avantika Bhuyan

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