Row over toll on Walayar NH stretch

Public protest against contractor; Collector inspects stretch

May 26, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 06:01 am IST - Palakkad:

Palakkad Collector P. Marikutty collects grievances of the people at Pudussery, Palakkad, on Monday.— Photo: K.K. Mustafah

Palakkad Collector P. Marikutty collects grievances of the people at Pudussery, Palakkad, on Monday.— Photo: K.K. Mustafah

A team of officials led by District Collector P. Marikutty on Monday inspected the Walayar-Vadakkanchery National Highway stretch in the background of strong public protest against a private contractor, for the four-laning works of the 54-km stretch, collecting toll before the completion of the works.

The team interacted with the Hyderabad-based construction company representatives, local community and organisations representing bus and truck operators.

The team also visited the areas in which construction works are pending.

Talking to The Hindu later, the District Collector informed that she would submit a detailed report to the State government.

Concessions

Only the State government can decide on the possible concessions to the local community in the monthly toll fee, she said. She also directed the company to complete the pending works immediately.

Status quo ante will be maintained till the works are being completed, she said.

The Collector said she also sought opinions of the MP and local MLAs.

Local people had strongly opposed the collection of toll until all the remaining works on the service roads, drainage works, installation of street lights and signboards of the highway are completed.

The project director of the NHAI has said that the contractors were within their rights to collect toll if 75 per cent of the works are complete.

It has also adopted the position that the lorries coming from the neighbouring States through Walayar cannot park their vehicles on the highway.

The Collector said that a proposal, at an outlay of Rs 4 crore, will be submitted to the government to make forest land in Walayar available for setting up a parking bay for the lorries.

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