The Left Democratic Front government of Kerala has halted collection at 28 toll booths across the state.
The Left Democratic Front government of Kerala has halted collection at 28 toll booths across the state.
“There is no need for toll for any bridge or road. The Pinarayi government has stopped toll collection at 28 bridges and roads. Now, there are only 10 remaining. The Roads and Bridges Corporation has been collecting tolls to repay the loans taken for the construction. The government wants to pay the money back to the Corporation and hence will do away with the tolls," announced the Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran recently, at a public event.
Toll collection has also been stopped at 14 bridges that comprises Aroor-Aroorkutty, Pulikkakadavu. Poovathumkadavu, New Cochin (Cheruthuruthy), Thuruthippuram Kottappuram, Krishnankotta, Kadalundikkadavu, Murinjapuzha, Mayannur, Sreemoola Nagaram, Vellapp, Mattul Madakara, Nedumkallu and Mannurkkadavu.
According to the Public Works Department, earlier in November 2016, as per the State government's policy of toll-less roads and bridges, the government put a stop to toll collection of Irumbanam-Thirpunuthura SN Junction, Ponnuruthy and Athani overbridges, Ernakulam Airport-Seaport road, Eroor overbridge and Thathappallykatupuzha bridge.
Apart from this, the government has also stopped toll collection at Akkulam, Kundannur and Varappuzha bridges on the National Highway (the construction cost of which is under Rs.100 crore).
Rs 5.5 crore is the total amount collected from the 14 tolls between 2002 and 2016 which is only 2.5 percent of the total construction cost which accounts to more than Rs.208 crore.
The recommendation was approved by the Chief Minister and the Finance Department before it was sent to the Cabinet. “It has been a historical decision to end toll collection of 24 bridges, the construction cost of which together would be more than Rs.1,000 crore,” noted the PWD statement. The government has also asked the Centre to stop the toll collection at the Kumbalam toll plaza and Palikkara toll plaza in Ernakulam as a reflection of the government's policy of not imposing burden on the common man," emphasizes the PWD statement.
The toll collection now exists for bridges and roads under the National Highway Authority that have been built spending more than Rs.100 crore, as well as those under PWD that were built on loans from various financial institutions.
“There is no need for toll for any bridge or road. The Pinarayi government has stopped toll collection at 28 bridges and roads. Now, there are only 10 remaining. The Roads and Bridges Corporation has been collecting tolls to repay the loans taken for the construction. The government wants to pay the money back to the Corporation and hence will do away with the tolls," announced the Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran recently, at a public event.
Toll collection has also been stopped at 14 bridges that comprises Aroor-Aroorkutty, Pulikkakadavu. Poovathumkadavu, New Cochin (Cheruthuruthy), Thuruthippuram Kottappuram, Krishnankotta, Kadalundikkadavu, Murinjapuzha, Mayannur, Sreemoola Nagaram, Vellapp, Mattul Madakara, Nedumkallu and Mannurkkadavu.
According to the Public Works Department, earlier in November 2016, as per the State government's policy of toll-less roads and bridges, the government put a stop to toll collection of Irumbanam-Thirpunuthura SN Junction, Ponnuruthy and Athani overbridges, Ernakulam Airport-Seaport road, Eroor overbridge and Thathappallykatupuzha bridge.
Apart from this, the government has also stopped toll collection at Akkulam, Kundannur and Varappuzha bridges on the National Highway (the construction cost of which is under Rs.100 crore).
Rs 5.5 crore is the total amount collected from the 14 tolls between 2002 and 2016 which is only 2.5 percent of the total construction cost which accounts to more than Rs.208 crore.
The recommendation was approved by the Chief Minister and the Finance Department before it was sent to the Cabinet. “It has been a historical decision to end toll collection of 24 bridges, the construction cost of which together would be more than Rs.1,000 crore,” noted the PWD statement. The government has also asked the Centre to stop the toll collection at the Kumbalam toll plaza and Palikkara toll plaza in Ernakulam as a reflection of the government's policy of not imposing burden on the common man," emphasizes the PWD statement.
The toll collection now exists for bridges and roads under the National Highway Authority that have been built spending more than Rs.100 crore, as well as those under PWD that were built on loans from various financial institutions.