THRISSUR: Toll collection on the Mannuthy-Vadakkanchery stretch of the national highway began at the toll plaza located at Panniyankara at midnight on Tuesday.
According to a communication by the company, which constructed the road, the toll will be Rs 90 for one-way trip for light motor vehicles and Rs 135 for two-way trip. The fee will be Rs 280 for bus and double-axle trucks for one-way trip, and Rs 425 for two-way trip. The rates for light luggage carriers will be Rs 140 for one way trip and Rs 210 for two-way trip. For multi-axle trucks, the rates will be Rs 430 for one-way trip and Rs 645 for two-way trip.
The toll fee at Panniyankara is much higher than at Paliyekkara on the Mannuthy-Edappally stretch of the NH as the 65-km Mannuthy-Edappally stretch is a four-lane highway whereas the 29-km Mannuthy-Vadakkanchery stretch is a six-lane highway.
As per the original contract, the total estimated cost was only Rs 641 crore. However, the construction company said that the cost has gone up to over Rs 1,286.76 crore. The huge investment made for the construction of the twin tunnels at Kuthiran is another reason behind the high user fee, said the construction company officials.
There are complaints that the toll collection has begun before the completion of road work. Meanwhile, Vadakkanchery Janakeeya Vedi called off the protest it planned for Tuesday midnight after assurances from the company that the residents of the six panchayatsnear the toll plaza will be exempted from paying the toll fee for one week.
Minister K Rajan, who is the local MLA, had earlier said that the toll collection should begin only after the completion of works. “The government is watching the situation,” he said.
