THRISSUR: Ignoring the public protest, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has given permission to Guruvayur Infrastructure Private Limited- a joint venture company responsible for toll collection and road maintenance on the Mannuthy-Edappally stretch of the National Highway 47- to hike the toll rates being charged from motorists at the Paliyekkara toll plaza in Thrissur. This is the second hike in less than two months as the last revision was on June 25.
According to the notifications issued by the NHAI on Thursday, the revised toll charges will come into effect from September 1. With this, the vehicles will have to pay `5- to `35 more. There will be a hike in the monthly passes too.
As per the revised tariff, the heavy vehicles, including multi-axle, have to pay more compared to light commercial and goods carriers. At present, the fee for light goods vehicle is `105 per single trip and ` 165 for return trip (within 24 hours), which has been increased to `115 and `175, respectively. For buses and trucks, the present fee is `210 and `315 for return trip, and they have been increased to `235 and `350, respectively.
Similarly, for heavy vehicles with multi-axle (three to six axles), the fee for single and double trips have been raised to `375 and `565 from the previous charges of `355 and `530, respectively.
The rates of cars, jeeps and vans remain unchanged with `65 and `95 for single trip, whle `5 has been increased for return trip in 24 hours.
Monthly passes for all categories of vehicles have also been increased in the same proportion.
According to NHAI officials, the annual revision of rates has been made in tune with the proportionate rise in overall price index of the country.
The successive hikes, however, have been the eye of storm for the past two years. The NHAI’s agreement with the company, nonetheless, permits annual upward revision based on the price index, they said.