Residents from villages surrounding the soon-to-be inaugurated Gomangalam Puthur Toll Plaza on the Pollachi-Dindigul highway, staged a road roko on Friday morning, demanding complete exemption from toll charges. They said levying toll on local commuters and farmers would severely impact their livelihood and urged the district administration to immediately intervene.
Pollachi: Residents from villages surrounding the proposed Gomangalam Puthur Toll Plaza on the Pollachi–Dindigul National Highway (NH 83) staged a road roko on Friday morning, demanding exemption from toll charges for local commuters before the plaza becomes operational.
The protesters, comprising villagers, farmers and local commuters from settlements within a 15 to 20-km radius of the toll plaza, alleged that charging toll for routine travel would place an undue financial burden on those who rely on the highway for their daily commute. They said farmers operating tractors and other agricultural vehicles would be among the worst affected, as they make frequent trips along the stretch.
The Gomangalam Puthur Toll Plaza, located at Kolarpatti, around 15 km from Pollachi towards Udumalaipettai, was scheduled to commence operations in the first week of July. However, its inauguration was postponed following safety audits and technical issues. With toll collection expected to begin shortly, residents intensified their opposition by staging the protest.
The demand for toll exemption is not new. Pollachi MLA K. Nithyanandhan, representatives of the DMK and Communist parties, along with local residents, have submitted multiple representations to the district administration and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), urging that people residing in the vicinity of the toll plaza be granted free passage.
In their petitions, they argued that the present location of the toll plaza would compel residents, farmers, daily wage earners and small traders using the existing main road to pay toll despite not utilising the bypass.
Although authorities had earlier discussed issuing concessional passes for local residents, the protesters said the proposal did not address their concerns and insisted on complete exemption from toll charges. They alleged that the NHAI had rejected the demand, while the district administration was yet to respond to their repeated representations.
The villagers further pointed out that buses operating between Udumalaipettai and Anthiyur travel on the tolled stretch for barely 500 metres before entering the service road, yet would still be required to pay the full toll fee. Similar difficulties would be faced by hundreds of local residents who use the road daily for work, education and essential services, they said.
Demanding an immediate announcement exempting local residents from toll charges, the protesters blocked traffic and warned that the agitation would continue unless the government intervenes before toll collection begins.
The Gomangalam Puthur Toll Plaza forms part of the 132-km Pollachi–Dindigul four-lane National Highway project, being executed at a cost of ₹4,699 crore. The 50-km Madathukulam–Pollachi stretch, where the toll plaza has been established, was developed at a cost of ₹1,772 crore.
The protesters, comprising villagers, farmers and local commuters from settlements within a 15 to 20-km radius of the toll plaza, alleged that charging toll for routine travel would place an undue financial burden on those who rely on the highway for their daily commute. They said farmers operating tractors and other agricultural vehicles would be among the worst affected, as they make frequent trips along the stretch.
The Gomangalam Puthur Toll Plaza, located at Kolarpatti, around 15 km from Pollachi towards Udumalaipettai, was scheduled to commence operations in the first week of July. However, its inauguration was postponed following safety audits and technical issues. With toll collection expected to begin shortly, residents intensified their opposition by staging the protest.
The demand for toll exemption is not new. Pollachi MLA K. Nithyanandhan, representatives of the DMK and Communist parties, along with local residents, have submitted multiple representations to the district administration and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), urging that people residing in the vicinity of the toll plaza be granted free passage.
In their petitions, they argued that the present location of the toll plaza would compel residents, farmers, daily wage earners and small traders using the existing main road to pay toll despite not utilising the bypass.
Although authorities had earlier discussed issuing concessional passes for local residents, the protesters said the proposal did not address their concerns and insisted on complete exemption from toll charges. They alleged that the NHAI had rejected the demand, while the district administration was yet to respond to their repeated representations.
The villagers further pointed out that buses operating between Udumalaipettai and Anthiyur travel on the tolled stretch for barely 500 metres before entering the service road, yet would still be required to pay the full toll fee. Similar difficulties would be faced by hundreds of local residents who use the road daily for work, education and essential services, they said.
Demanding an immediate announcement exempting local residents from toll charges, the protesters blocked traffic and warned that the agitation would continue unless the government intervenes before toll collection begins.
The Gomangalam Puthur Toll Plaza forms part of the 132-km Pollachi–Dindigul four-lane National Highway project, being executed at a cost of ₹4,699 crore. The 50-km Madathukulam–Pollachi stretch, where the toll plaza has been established, was developed at a cost of ₹1,772 crore.