"Our car had an accident with a truck. Immediately I called up one of my friends who gave me the number of the NHAI authorities. The people claiming to be NHAI officials reached within some time and demanded money to provide help," said Vedpal.

He, thereafter, filed an RTI application asking the NHAI about the services provided by them to motorists and the charges for these. He was surprised by their reply received July 13 which said all the services - providing assistance at the nearest point - were free for commuters travelling on national highways under toll.

He also got to know that if there is any deficiency in service, the action of the company that has the contract to maintain a particular highway and provide services to motorists is considered a breach of contract.

The Gurgaon-Jaipur stretch of the 208-km toll highway is maintained by the Dubai-based firm Emirates Trading Agency LLC in collaboration with the Indian firm KMC Construction Limited.

Vedpal specifically asked through his application whether the facilities provided by the licensee on behalf of the NHAI like crane service and car breakdown service are chargeable at market or subsidized rates.

The NHAI in its reply clearly mentioned that all these services were free of cost. The RTI query also revealed that the licensee company also had to provide services like toilet blocks, drinking water and bus bays on the highway.

The NHAI also denied that there was any rate card fixed on toll roads for providing such services.

Now Vedpal is planning to file a complaint with the NHAI demanding termination of the contract of the company which charged him for towaway service, violating the NHAI's contract terms.