Kochi; Trouble has started brewing at Kumbalam toll plaza along the National Highway 47 bypass with residents of Aroor protesting against “new conditions” imposed by toll collection agency. On Tuesday, nearly 50 CPM activists held a protest march to the toll plaza demanding that the toll company should stop “exploitation” of local residents.
“The company, Kochi-Aroor Tollways Pvt Ltd, is exploiting us. It has stopped allowing multiple passages for local vehicles on a single toll levy per day for Aroor residents. Now only to-and-fro passage is being permitted under a single pay. The local residents are suffering due to setting up of the toll plaza and we’re not granted the legally eligible exemption benefits,”said P.M. Suneer, action council joint convenor and local CPM leader.
Two days ago, the residents of Kumbalam, too had protested after the toll company made it mandatory for residents to take monthly pass. “We’re asked to take monthly pass by doling out Rs 235 which cannot be acceptable. In every toll, the local residents are exempted,” said Saju Varghese a Kumbalam native. The local commercial light motor vehicles will now have to pay Rs 10, mini vans Rs 20, buses or truck Rs 45 and heavy construction machinery vehicles Rs 70.
