Series of roadblocks takes its toll on Keralas highway ambitions

The toll there had been introduced a few months ago

Kerala is yet to warm up to the idea of a build-operate-and-transfer highway,with local residents resisting the toll wherever one has been imposed.

On a 17-km stretch of the Aroor-Kumbalam bypass along the NH-47 between Kanyakumari and Salem,the government has taken on the entire toll liability from residents of Kumbalam panchayat,who have refused to pay. The toll there had been introduced a few months ago. And now,on a 65-km stretch between Thrissur and Kochi,toll collection introduced this month had to be suspended after residents vandalised a toll plaza.

The National Highway Authority of India had given clearance to a Hyderabad-based road builder to collect toll from December 4 for the 65-km stretch,the first to be four-laned on the highway. Agitators vandalised the plaza in Thrissur demanding free movement of vehicles. Last week,Chief Minister Oommen Chandy asked the NHAI to postpone the toll collection until the government gets a report from the state PWD chief engineer on the issues raised by the agitators.

Story continues below this ad

NHAI project officer (Palakkad) G Ramanathan said people living within a 10-km diameter wanted exemption,when the rule is a monthly pass of Rs 150 for such people and one of Rs 300 for those living within a 20-km diameter. He said the NHAI cannot exempt any vehicle from the toll; if the state government wants to,it has to pay for the exemption.

The toll proposed for the 65-km stretch is Rs 55 and Rs 85 (one-way and both ways) for cars,Rs 95 and Rs 145 for light commercial vehicles,and Rs 195 and Rs 290 for other commercial vehicles.

Among other demands,local people also wanted a service road for 40 km,whereas as per the concession agreement the company was to construct one for 26 km. The company met all requirements before starting toll collection. But people are demanding more facilities…

Due to resistance,sources said,land for the service road could not be acquired in many small towns along the stretch. In fact,the toll has been structured in a people-friendly manner. A vehicle can run within the stretch without paying any toll. The toll has been fixed targeting long-distance vehicles, an official said.

Story continues below this ad

PWD chief engineer Joseph Mathew said,I will report to the government whether additional facilities that are not in the concession agreement should be provided for the road users.

On the Kumbalam stretch,the government set a precedent. When the NHAI,which had widened the stretch,began toll collection,residents of Kumbalam panchayat prevented it from collecting toll for several days. The government then agreed to pay the toll for vehicles owned by residents of the panchayat.

The NHAI has issued special passes for 400-odd car owners. When they use the road,it will be recorded at the Kumbalam plaza. The NHAI can claim the amount from the state government as per an agreement, said project officer C I Abraham.

Development of national highways is behind schedule in Kerala due to such resistance from people and sometimes also from political parties. It was only in 2007 that the government agreed to widening of the highways under a BOT scheme.

Story continues below this ad

In 2010,an-all party meeting decided to reduce the road width to 30 metres from 45 after a traders lobby protested against land acquisition. The NHAI threatened to stop work in Kerala,forcing the government to reverse the decision.

Another hurdle is that at some places,people are reluctant to hand over land already acquired.