Kochi: In good news for commuters, the state government on Tuesday decided to end levying of toll at SN Junction and Irumbanam along the Kochi-Madurai National Highway and Airport-Seaport road respectively from November 1 in the wake of public demand. The decision comes in the wake of the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation (RBDCK) insisting on continuing the collection of toll at Irumbanam till 2019.
The state’s decision to end toll was announced by PWD minister G. Sudhakaran in the Assembly while replying to a submission filed by MLA Anoop Jacob. “A direction has been given to the RBDCK managing director to end the toll collection on October 31. The LDF government is against levying toll and is considering to end all toll collections in the state highways and roads. In case of tolls being levied by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the RBDCK, we will discuss it with them and consider stopping the same,” the minister said.
The toll at Irumbanam and SN junction, managed by the RBDCK, was started in 2005 and as per the agreement under the Kerala Road Fund Act, the user fee collection could be done till December 16, 2019. However, as against the construction cost of Rs 34.27 crore, a total of Rs 27.82 crore was collected till 2016. “However, the decision was taken following public demand to end the toll,” the minister added. RBDCK managing director A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish had earlier said that any pre-mature termination would result in payment of compensation to the contractor.
Police withdraws key traffic reform withdrawn
The Kochi City Traffic police finally withdrew traffic reforms effected at the busy SN junction over a month ago. The decision to ban vehicles from Eroor side directly cutting across the Refinery Road was taken on September 8. The Tripunithura municipality had passed a resolution against the measure taken without consulting them. Municipal chairperson Chandrika Devi wrote a letter to the city police commissioner asking to withdraw the “unpopular” traffic reform.
“Finally we held a Traffic Consultative meet on Monday in which the cops agreed to withdraw the reforms. The same was causing hardships to motorists entering from the side roads as they have to turn left and then take U-turn. This might work well on National Highways, but the roads in the royal town are narrow,” Ms Chandrika said. Meanwhile, the Kochi City Traffic Police denied the decision was withdrawn due to local pressure.
“The reform was introduced as a follow up of the modification effected at the Vytilla Junction. However, we later learned that the school students near SN Junction were affected by the decision and hence we revoked it,” said Arul R.B. Krishna, deputy commissioner of police, while insisting that the experiment was a success as it brought down waiting time of vehicles at key junctions. The police official, however, clarified that the Traffic police would go ahead with the reforms at Vytilla and other key junctions.
