A few bus crew resorted to a snap protest at the toll booth near NITK, Surathkal, on National Highway 66 on Friday, against the hike in toll charges that came into effect today. Vehicular traffic on the highway was blocked for about 30 minutes.
The NHAI had been collecting toll near NITK as a temporary arrangement to recover cost of construction of the four-lane road between Nantoor Junction and NITK as a part of Port Connectivity Project since December 2015.
The authority revised the toll charges marginally (with effect from April 1), as is being done elsewhere in the country. While there was no hike for charges for four-wheelers and light commercial vehicles, there was marginal hike of Rs. 5 for buses and trucks, as well as a marginal hike for monthly passes by about Rs. 100. When personnel managing the toll booth demanded enhanced charges, certain service bus crew reportedly protested and blocked the road.
However, crew of express buses plying between Mangaluru-Udupi and beyond did not join the protest. After the intervention of Surathkal police, the situation returned to normality.
K. Rajavarma Ballal, president of Canara Bus Operators Association, told The Hindu that the toll operator had offered express buses Rs. 5,100 per month per bus fee package under which one bus could do any number of trips in a day. Express bus operators have no issue with the enhanced toll as they have not received any communication in this regard from the operator, he said.
Toll charges have not been increased for four-wheelers (Rs. 45 for single and Rs. 70 for return journey) and light commercial vehicles (Rs. 75 for single and Rs. 110 for return journey), while the monthly pass rates for them were increased by Rs. 25 and Rs. 45, respectively. Toll charge for bus/ truck for single journey too has remained at Rs. 155.
Toll for 18 km
The NHAI, which has built the four-lane road between Nantoor and Surathkal under the Port Connectivity Project, is collecting toll for 18.362 km, including 1.025 km of bypass and 2.925 km of structures.
The authority has in a newspaper publication on March 25 said that it has spent Rs. 363 crore on the project and so far, Rs. 22 crore have been recovered.
Once the capital cost is completely recovered, the toll rates would be reduced to 40 per cent, the NHAI said.
