Surge of rage against ‘too many’ toll gates

Transporters have been strongly opposing the three toll gates within a distance of 82 km on the Narasannapeta-Srikakulam-Visakhapatnam stretch, complaining that they were being fleeced under the guise of road user charges. The distance between Madapam and Chilakapalem gate in Srikakulam district is “only 34.8 km”. The same is the case with the Chilakapalem—Bhogapuram stretch where a toll gate has been set up at a distance of “only” 47.2 km.

Individual vehicle owners, taxi drivers, Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus crew and other vehicle users crossing this route are forced to cough up huge amounts for a short distance.

The fare collected from cars at the Chilakapalem toll gate has been enhanced from Rs. 65 to Rs.75, thrusting additional burden on taxi owners. The rates have gone up at the other two toll gates also in the last few months. Currently, the ‘to’ and ‘fro’ toll amount for cars is Rs. 235, and for commercial vehicles, it is around Rs. 500. A truck driver crossing all three toll gates has to shell out around Rs. 800.

AP Lorry Owners Association vice-president M. Janakiram Reddy strongly opposed the hike in toll taxes. “Unlike in the past when multiple trips were allowed within 24 hours, now only ‘to and fro’ is allowed within 24 hours. It is a heavy burden on the transport industry,” he said.

APSRTC move

The APSRTC, which pays Rs. 85 for each trip at each gate, has shifted the burden on the passengersRepresentatives of various sectors have been demanding closure of the toll gates saying that the department has earned enough at the cost of the public in the last one decade.