Kochi, Saturday, June 11, 2011: The toll collection in the Aroor- Edappally stretch that began Saturday has been stopped following protests by various organisations. Protest demonstrations were held under the aegis of Anti-toll peoples committee and the AIYF. The protestors were later arrested and removed by the police.

The NHAI which is introducing a ‘perpetual toll’ along the 16.5 km stretch claimed they will first study the vehicle traffic in the stretch before inviting tenders

The NHAI is planning to collect a monthly toll of Rs 150 from those residing in the 10 km radius of toll plaza. Those residing in 10-20 km radius will have to pay a monthly toll of Rs 300.

Meanwhile an all-party meeting will be held in Kochi tomorrow for discussing the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI’s) decision to collect user fee from motorists using the Aroor-Edapally (16 km) stretch of the NH 47 bypass.

The agency had entrusted the Cochin Port Road Company to collect Rs 15 for single journey by car, Rs 20 for multiple passages each day and Rs 415 for monthly pass. The NHAI-specified rates for other vehicles will be: light commercial vehicle/mini bus – Rs 25, Rs 35 and Rs 730; bus and lorry – Rs 50, Rs 75 and Rs 1,460 and heavier vehicles Rs 80, Rs 115 and Rs 2,345.

The NHAI’s Kochi project director C.T. Abraham said that the user fee would be collected at the toll booths at Kumbalam. “Users of personal vehicles (cars, other four wheelers) residing within 10 km radius of the booth would get the monthly pass at Rs 150, while it would be Rs 300 for those residing between 10 to 20 km of the booth.”

The protesting organizations said that the NHAI is imposing the toll without building flyovers and foot overbridges/subways at the four extremely-congested junctions en route – Kundanoor, Vytilla, Palarivattom and Edapally. Most often, motorists have to wait for three signal changes or more to cross each of these junctions.

(News agency)