: Collection of toll on the Walayar-Vadakkancherry stretch of the National Highway 544 has been temporarily stopped following public outcry. The toll was imposed from Friday, even before the completion of road widening work
The private company that undertook the widening works on behalf of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said the toll collection would be resumed after completion of work on the stretch.
Toll charges were imposed after the stretch was made four-lane.
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The decision to impose toll ahead of the completion of the widening work had drawn criticism.. Civil society organisations and Lorry Owners Welfare Federation had begun organising protests since the imposition of the toll. They termed the move ‘discriminatory’ as the section of the road did not meet motorway specifications defined by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).