KOCHI: The decision to stop toll collection at the bridges at S N Junction and Irumbanam in Tripunithura has been widely welcomed by the commuters. The decision was one of the promises made by M Swaraj MLA during his election campaign. Another toll booth at Kundannoor-Thevara bridge downed shutters in July this year.
However, commuters, who were jubilant over the decision, pointed out that the authorities concerned should think of dismantling the booths as soon as toll collection is withdrawn. “We don’t fear that they will resume toll collection again. Ok. If we analyse it, of course the empty toll booths are monuments of our bitter experience. These are places where we were forced to stop and cough up cash. But actually these structures are speed breakers and disrupt the flow of traffic. A majority of toll booths have humps near them which force drivers to slow down their vehicles,” said Firoz Najeeb, a frequent commuter along the Seaport-Airport Road.
The PWD will stop collecting toll on S N Junction and Irumbanam from November 1 onwards. As per the estimate, the total expenditure for the construction of both the rail over bridges was Rs 34 crore. As per the agreement between PWD, Kerala Road Fund Board and Roads and Bridges Development Corporation (RBDCK) in December 2004, it was decided to recover the expenditure with interest. RBDCK was entrusted to collect user fee for 15 years. According to officials concerned, a total of Rs 27 crore has been collected as on March 2016.
When asked about demolishing the structures once the toll collection is stopped, RBDCK managing director A P M Mohammed Hanish said that will be the usual practice in this case too. “Once the toll collection is stopped, there is no need to maintain the toll plaza and the structure. We will auction it and will allot it to the eligible bidder. The bidder will also pay for the raw materials after dismantling,” he added.
National Highways Authority of India decided to stop toll collection on Kundannoor-Thevara bridge in July following a meeting with PWD Minister G Sudhakaran. Before that, the toll collection, which started 16 years ago, was suspended after a stay was issued by the High Court. However, the structure and toll booths are yet to be dismantled by NHAI.