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Kerala toll hike: Centre goes ahead with toll hike, PWD says it’s helpless

Revised toll to be effective from September first
Thiruvananthapuram: The travel woes of the NH users in the state are set to increase with the centre hiking the toll rates at Thrissur and Edapally booths from September 1.
The monthly charge for heavy vehicles will increase from Rs 1,890 to Rs 2,005. For car, jeep and van, the rate will go up by Rs 15 for one way. PWD Minister V. K. Ebrahimkunju told DC that the state had no role in fixing the toll rates.
“The central government has increased the toll as per the agreement with the toll plazas. But unfortunately, the contracting company which collects toll has not completed the work allotted to it,” he said. However, it is said that the government hiked the toll since there was no resistance from the public when it was last hiked in June.
The company concerned--Hyderabad-based KMC Constructions-has not completed the work on the Vadakkencherry–Mannuthy NH stretch in Palakkad–Thrissur districts.
The National Highway Authority of India had sent a letter to the company a few weeks back, but is yet to get a reply. The company was awarded the contract to widen the 28-km stretch between Mannuthy and Vadakkencherry on BOT basis in February 2010.
The NHAI had served it a termination order last year but the issue was solved when the government appointed an arbitrator. The work delay then was due to the NHAI backing out of a compensation package for evictees. With the entry of the arbitrator, it enhanced the amount and 99 per cent of land could be acquired by May 2013.
Meanwhile, disregarding strong public protests, the National Highway Authority of India has permitted the revision of toll rates at the Paliyekkara toll plaza for the second time in less than three months.
Guruvayur Infrastructure Private Limited, a joint venture company, is responsible for toll collection and road maintenance on the Mannuthi-Edapally stretch of the National Highway 47.
Vehicles passing through the stretch will have to pay Rs 5-35 more from next month. The monthly pass will also be costlier.
As per the revised tariff, heavy vehicles, including multi-axle, have to pay more compared to light commercial and goods carriers. At present, the fee for light goods vehicle is Rs 110 per single trip and Rs 165 for return trip (within 24 hours), which has been increased to Rs 115 and Rs 175 respectively. For buses and trucks, the present fee is Rs 220 per trip and Rs 330 for return trip, which has gone up to Rs 235 and Rs 350 respectively.
Similarly, for multi-axle heavy vehicles (three to six axles), the fee for the single and double trips has been hiked to Rs 375 and Rs 565 from the previous Rs 355 and Rs 530 respectively.
Cars, jeeps and vans will have to pay Rs 65 and Rs 100 for single trip and return trip respectively. The monthly pass rate for the all categories of vehicles has also been increased in the same proportion.
According to NHAI officials, the rates hiked on June 25 should have been increased in the previous financial year itself.
( Source : dc )
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