Mangaluru-registered cars to pay toll at Surathkal plaza from July 16

Authority says it is suffering losses by allowing free transit to local vehicles

A file photo of the toll plaza at Surathkal.

Personal vehicles (cars and other four-wheelers) with ‘KA 19’ registration, which hitherto were unofficially exempted from paying toll at the Surathkal toll plaza on NH 66, will have to pay the prescribed toll from July 16.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), owner of the toll plaza near National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, has put up an announcement in this regard at the plaza.

It says cars with ‘KA 19’ registration will have to pay ₹25 for one-way transit (₹50 for other cars) while the monthly pass for those residing within a 20-km radius is ₹265 for unlimited transit.

The authority had been urging the State government to facilitate toll collection from local vehicles at the plaza. The toll collection rules do not exempt any vehicle from paying toll except the notified ones, the authority had been claiming.

Vehicles entering Karnataka from Kerala will have to pay toll at Talapady and then at Surathkal, followed by Hejmady, a little distance away, if they are proceeding towards Udupi, according to Surathkal Toll Virodhi Horata Samithi president Muneer Katipalla.

Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil told

The Hindu NHAI had complained to the government that the district administration was not facilitating toll collection. In a recent weekly video conference, the Chief Secretary had directed the DC to facilitate toll collection forthwith and if need be by deploying police personnel.

There was no other way, Mr. Senthil said adding he has asked the Police Commissioner to extend police security.

Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil told The Hindu NHAI authorities had approached him seeking police protection. He has asked them to sensitise people before resorting to toll collection and come back to him with the plan and then the police would extend security.

NHAI Project Director Shishu Mohan said the authority was suffering losses by allowing free transit to local vehicles, adding that the monthly pass for local vehicles was not too costly.