Is it toll collection or extortion?
text_fields
Image for representation only
In Kerala, an MLA has been arrested and taken away from the protest tent by the police, and the protest tent has also been demolished. A.K.M. Ashraf, an MLA from Manjeswaram, was arrested for leading a protest against looting of people in the name of toll collection. The protest led by the MLA was against the unfair collection of double toll on the Thalappadi-Cherkala route, at the start of the first reach of National Highway 66 in Kerala. While there is already a toll collection in Thalappadi, which borders Karnataka, the new toll plaza has come up in Arikkadi near Kumbala, flouting the requirement of a distance difference of 60 km between two toll plazas. Kasaragod is a district that was made by the locals who worked hard on the land they had migrated to, but apart from that there were not even basic amenities for a long time. That is why it is essential for the people there to travel to the neighboring state of Karnataka every day for treatment, education and work. If one has to pay a toll of Rs. 280 at Arikkadi and at Thalappadi, 22 km away, to go from Kumbala to Mangalore, which is only 41 km away, what can we call it but extortion?
The toll issue in Kumbala came to light on Wednesday night when some people who infiltrated the peaceful but spirited protest along the national highway under the joint leadership of political parties, popular groups and clubs other than the BJP, damaged the gate and counter windows of the toll plaza. However, the authorities had prepared the ground for this illegal extortion long before. According to the calculations, the toll plaza was to be opened at Chalingal near Periya. However, this was not possible as the road construction could not be completed. Instead of trying to complete the road construction on time, the National Highway authorities hastened to collect toll wherever they could. People had sought legal recourse at the very stage when the movement to open the toll plaza illegally in Arikkadi began. The action committee had also obtained a stay from the Kerala High Court in November. Although the High Court single bench ruled in favor of the authority, the action committee appealed to the division bench. Subsequently, the division bench had directed that the case be considered again. The authorities informed the court that the toll plaza had not received the Centre’s approval and therefore would not collect tolls, but they broke their word, which confused the people. Since the case against the toll is pending in the High Court, the National Highways Authority officials, who rejected the joint request of five MLAs of the district to stop the illegal collection until the verdict, are of the view that the collection is based on a Central government notification and cannot be stopped.
The people are put to hard suffering because they have to pay a high price for traveling on a road built with the people's tax money on land that was evacuated. In Paliyekkara toll plaza, in the Mannuthi-Edappally reach of National Highway 544, which was built at a cost of 721 crores., the toll contractors collected more than double the amount spent in 15 years. There was also a situation where the courts had to ask how toll could be collected on a road that even an ambulance cannot pass. The court had also asked why people should pay toll if the journey is difficult, and warned that the toll collectors are responsible for ensuring a good road and that if urgent action is not taken, the toll collection will be stopped. But what then? The people are destined to travel on a road that is still not completed, with severe traffic congestion and paying a heavy toll.
The highest toll rate in the state is being levied on the Ramanattukara reach of the National Highway, where service roads and pavements are yet to be completed. Even the drainage channels for water to flow away have not been completed in the full stretch. It is a pity that the authorities have not taken any steps to protect the rights of the people other than forcefully removing those who protest against this.
