Venkaiah writes to Gadkari on closure of Kondayapalem toll plaza

Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday spoke to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to take steps for the closure of the new toll plaza at Kondayapalem point on the national highway that fell within the urban limits of Nellore city.

Mr. Naidu also wrote a letter to Mr. Gadkari saying that the establishment of toll plaza for collection of user fee at Kondayapalem was causing a lot of inconvenience to the people as it fell within the urban limits.

Stating that the limits of Nellore town had expanded drastically in recent years, Mr. Naidu said that people had to travel frequently from one end of the town to the other for daily needs and the toll plaza had become a big burden to them.

Mr. Naidu pointed out that there was another toll plaza already operating at Venkatachalam, which is within 15 km from the new toll plaza, and the establishment of a new one would violate the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008. These rules stipulated that there should be a distance of 60 km between two toll plazas.

Mr. Naidu urged Mr. Gadkari for an immediate action to close down the toll plaza at Kondayapalem.

Mr. Gadkari assured the Urban Development Minister that he would convene a meeting of officials and take steps needed.