Steps to start toll collection on Kollam bypass were temporarily suspended on Tuesday following protests by various political parties.
The district administration has convened a meeting of people’s representatives and local residents to discuss the possibilities, as the bypass is only a partially completed project. “As per the agreement signed by the State and Union governments, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has the authority to collect toll. We had intervened in earlier occasions and now we are trying to solve the issue in a way the local residents will not be burdened,” said Kollam Collector B. Abdul Nasar.
Earlier too, the agency in charge of collecting toll had to step back as it had initiated the procedures without the permission of the State government or district administration. NHAI authorities had gone ahead with their plans to start toll collection in November 2020 despite the district administration voicing its apprehensions. Youth wings of various political parties had taken out protest marches to the plaza forcing police to intervene and close the counters.
Meanwhile, Kollam Corporation authorities said they had no prior information about the agency’s move. “The Corporation is against collecting toll in the middle of the pandemic and we do not support the move. We are hoping to reach a consensus in favour of the public,” said Mayor Prasanna Earnest.
Former Public Works Minister G. Sudhakaran said he had asked Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to avoid toll. The State government also did not want to impose toll for the amount it spent on the project. The 13-km stretch, connecting Mevaram and Kavanad, was completed with ₹352 crore out of which the Centre spent ₹176 crore on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis.
The bypass was thrown open for traffic on April 19, 2019, and the Centre had directed Kerala government to collect the toll fee and remit it until full realisation of the investment incurred by the Centre. According to the Centre, the State government is obliged to levy the toll as per the Financial Participation Agreement signed between the two governments on January 17, 2014.
