Cars, jeeps, and vans have to pay Rs 45 for a single journey and Rs 70 for up and down
NH- 544
THRISSUR: Following wide protest, the collection of toll along the Walayar-Vadakkancherry stretch of National Highway 544 linking Salem with Kochi has been suspended on Saturday. Walayar Toll Ways Private Limited started collecting toll from road users along the 46.75-km stretch from Friday.
Cars, jeeps, and vans have to pay Rs 45 for a single journey and Rs 70 for up and down on the same day. However, there was a strong protest staged on Saturday at the toll plaza at Pampampallam, near Walayar, where the toll was being collected. The local residents said the exorbitant rate was fixed in an arbitrary manner without consulting people’s representatives. Some bridges are still under construction. Dividers are yet to be installed in several parts.
Lorry and bus owners alleged that the toll collection was a violation of the rights of commuters. Political parties termed the move as discriminatory as the said section of the road did not meet the motorway specifications defined by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). They also expressed concern over the unscientific road-crossings allowed in many points between Walayar and Chandranagar.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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