Combined user fee collection at Hejmady toll plaza on NH 66 yet to commence

Collection of toll, however, came to an end at NITK-Surathkal toll plaza on November 30 midnight

Collection of combined user fee (toll) of NITK-Surathkal plaza and Hejmady plaza on National Highway 66 did not commence from the midnight of November 30, as intimated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to the officials of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

However, as per a November 24 order of the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner to stop user fee collection, NHAI discontinued user fee collection at Surathkal plaza from the midnight of November 30-December 1. Vehicles moved without any obstruction at this toll plaza while normal toll was being collected at the Hejmady plaza.

Toll collectors fear backlash from motorists

NHAI officials cited ‘technical’ issues as the reason for not collecting combined toll fee at the Hejmady plaza.

Sources, however, said Navayuga Udupi Tollway Pvt. Ltd., that manages the Hejmady plaza, backed out from collecting the combined toll fearing backlash from motorists for collecting a higher fee.

Surathkal Toll Virodhi Horata Samithi convener Muneer Katipalla too cited the same reason. “While Navayuga was afraid of possible backlash from road users, neither the Central Government, nor elected representatives were afraid of public sentiments,” he commented.

With the 34-day indefinite dharna of the Samithi demanding closure of the Surathkal plaza ending after toll collection stopped at Surathkal, the Samithi had planned to join the dharna opposing collection of combined toll at Hejmady to be undertaken by various organisations of Udupi district from December 2.