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Tollgate charges up in 20 tollgates from 1st April
Posted on: 29/Mar/2017 1:26:55 PM
The toll gate charges will be increased by 10 percent in 20 toll gates in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The lorry owners and goods transporters have strongly protested against this.
The national Highways in the state of Tamil Nadu, a total distance of 5004 km, is being jointly maintained by the National Highways Commission, and private agencies.
In order to counter the expenses incurred for the laying of the Highways and for maintenance expenditure, there are 43 toll gate centres in the state of Tamil Nadu collecting toll gate charges.
Out of these 43 tollgates, The central department of Highways Commission collects toll gate charges in 14 gates, Private companies collect toll gate charges in 29 gates.
The National Highways Commission has granted permission to levy increases in the toll gate charges in 3 phases in 3 days every year – 1st April, 1st September, and 15th October.
Accordingly, toll gate charges are being increased by 10 percent for 1st April in 20 tollgates in Tamil Nadu including Chingleput, Maduravoyil, and Wallaja.
When the toll gate charges were revised in 23 toll gates during last September, it was immediately followed by an increase in the rental rates for goods vehicles and also the fares in the omnibuses.
Now, the toll gate charges in 20 toll gates are set to be revised from 1st April – this has led to the apprehension that the increased toll gate charges would lead to an increase in the prices of vegetables and other grocery items.
The Sand Lorry Owners Associaton has strongly protested against this increase. It has observed that when the number of vehicles plying on the highways increase, the toll gate charges must only be reduced and not increased. Also, it has stated that additional toll gate charges are being levied in the Vaangaram-Wallajabad Highway, without laying the 6-lane highway.
The Union has also accused that additional toll gate charges are being collected while neither new highways are being laid nor the existing toll gates being properly maintained.
