Lorry owners, farmers and the public will stage a demonstration on July 23 at Karumathampatti protesting against collection of toll at Kaniyur and demanding permanent solution to the Chengapalli-Neelambur, Madukkarai-Walayar road widening project.
According to a press release from the Farmers’ Association, Coimbatore Lorry Owners’ Association, Peelamedu Consumer Voice, and Walayar-Kaniyur toll gate protest committee, toll should not be collected from farmers at the toll gates, the concessionaire (IVRCL) should repay the toll collected so far, should not collect toll from residents within 20 km radius of the toll gate and should pay a penalty of Rs. 4.26 lakh to NHAI for not completing the project on time.
The Rs. 852-crore project was supposed to be completed in 2013. Since it was delayed the public staged a protest in October 2013 and also went to the court. The court ordered that the entire project should be completed by the end of December 2015. However, the flyover at Neelambur and the road widening works from Madukkarai to Walayar are yet to be completed. Yet, the concessionaire is collecting toll at Kaniyur.
