Toll gate charges reduced for the first time in Tamil Nadu
Posted on: 02/Sep/2016 3:14:41 PM
The toll gate rates have been reduced by Re. 1/- to Rs. 4/- at the 22 toll gates throughout the state of Tamil Nadu.
Out of the 5004 km long Highways in the state of Tamil Nadu, 3006 km are under the control of the National Highways Authority.
43 toll gates have been set up in this domain. Apart from the National Highways Authority, some private agencies also collect toll gate charges.
Private agencies have been given the permission to collect toll charges as per the contract, undertaken for the widening and maintenance of the highways. Till the contractor gets the payment for the road widening work, permission has been given to collect toll charges including a 10 percent revision every year. Once, the contractor gets the payment, then the rates have to be reduced.
However, many contracting companies have not reduced the toll charges even after collecting the payment for completing their work. This created a problem.
10 percent addition was made in the toll gate charges in 21 toll gates during the month of April in Tamil Nadu. Political parties and truck and bus owners strongly protested against this .
In the balance routes of Chennai-Kolkata, Karur-Dindigul, Madurai-Tuticorin, Namakkal-Karur, Puducherry-Tindivanam, Thanjavur-Trichy, and Trichy-Karur comprising of 22 toll gates, charges have been revised - not upwards, but reduced by Re. 1/- to Rs. 4/-.
As there were very strong protests against the 10 percent increase imposed on the toll gate charges, the National Highway Authority, has taken the action to reduce the toll gate charges for the 1st ever time in Tamil Nadu.
