Palakkad: The toll rates at the National Highway toll booth at pampallam near Walayar were hiked twice in the last four months. Thought the toll rates were earlier revised in November last year amid protest, the contract company has now again will be implemented collection is carried out by on contract by KNR Constructions Ltd.
Agitation committee chairman P S Panikkar said that there is no justification for toll like which is the third time just in year. He alleged that the company had started toll collection even without completing the road works in November last year. The company authorities said that the toll rates were revised as per the direction of the National Highway Authority of India . As per the new rates a monthly pass (55 single passages) for light motor vehicles like cars, jeeps and vans will be Rs 1,815 against the Rs 1, 785.
For small goods vehicles and mini buses the charge for a single trip has been hiked to Rs 90 from Rs 85 and the monthly pass rates to Rs 2,935 from Rs 2,880. For heavy vehicles like bus and truck the monthly rate rose to Rs 6,150 from Rs 6,04-0. For vehicle of industrial Purpose like JCB earth movers the rate was increased to Rs 9,470 from Rs 9,645 . For vehicles with seven of more axels the rate for a single trip is hiked to Rs 530 from Rs 520 and Rs 11,745 from Rs 11,530 as monthly rates.
Panikkar said that the words of service roads signals and street lights are yet to be completed . “The high toll rates will put taxi and truck operators in great entry of goods vehicle from other states through the Walayar inter-sate check post,” he added.
