Crossing the toll gate at Pudur Pandiyapuram on Madurai–Tuticorin expressway has become tedious for vehicle users, as they often get stuck in traffic.
The sluggish manner in which the personnel manning the toll gate counters cleared the vehicles after collecting toll led to traffic congestion, vehicle users said.
All vehicles had to wait for about 15-20 minutes there, R. Loganathan, a driver, said here on Sunday.
Adding to their woes, two counters at the toll gate were functioning and hence the vehicles could pass only through six counters. Since a large number of vehicles, especially heavy vehicles, were plying to and from Tuticorin, all toll collection counters should be made operational round the clock to ease traffic congestion.
There was long tailing of vehicles from 7 p.m. and the problem continued up to 11 p.m. every day, J. Vinodh, a commuter, said. The delay in crossing this toll gate made him miss a Chennai-bound train in Kovilpatti recently, he added.
M. Muthu Udayar, Project Director (in-charge), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), told The Hindu that works were under way on a war footing to launch electronic toll collection system at the two non-functional counters.
This facility was expected to come into operation by June.
On a trial basis, two counters in all toll gates would come under electronic toll system.
Commuters, who frequented the toll gate, could pay toll in advance to avail themselves of this facility. Electronic chips would be installed on the bumpers of the vehicles and boomers at the toll gate would be equipped with sensors to avoid delay in allowing vehicles, K. Thangavel, former Project Director, NHAI, said.
“It costs Rs. 5 crore to install the system in each toll gate,” he said.
