Forum wants closure of Surathkal toll gate

The Tollgate Virodhi Horata Samithi, Surathkal, will stage a padayatra from Kuloor Junction to the toll gate near NITK Surathkal at 9.30 am on September 26, demanding the closure of the toll gate.

Samithi convener Muneer Katipalla told reporters on Wednesday that the authorities had promised to stop toll collection at Surathkal after the Hejamady plaza started functioning. “Several months later, the toll gate at Surathkal continues to operate. Toll collection at Surathkal is illegal and loot from road users,” he alleged.

Katipalla said that the NHAI has renewed the collection at Surathkal in spite of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel promising that there would be no collection.

“The NH rules state that the distance between two toll plazas should be 40 km. Toll collection should be started only after 75% of the work is complete at the plaza and the work on the service roads has been completed. The distance between Hejamady and Surathkal toll plazas is just 9 km. Also, about 75% of the service roads have remained incomplete from Surathkal to Nanthoor,” he pointed out.

He said further that the rules state that the toll collection road should have no potholes, which, if any, should be fixed within 48 hours of appearance.

Katipalla urged the authorities to repair the stretch from Surathkal to Nanthoor. “The pothole-filled highway has been causing inconvenience to road users. There is also traffic congestion on the stretch. The potholes are dangerous when it rains as motorists who are unable to assess the depths of the potholes might end up falling into the potholes. The contractor has failed to take up the work on the maintenance of the highway,” he complained.

The forum leader also urged the NHAI to complete the work on service roads at the earliest and accelerate the work on filling potholes on the highway.

“The proposal on the flyover at Nanthoor should be sanctioned immediately,” he demanded.