Toll collection begins at Kothatai on Villupuram-Nagapattinam NH amid protests by locals and private bus operators

Toll collection on Villupuram-Nagapattinam Highway sparks protests by private bus operators and political parties, facing technical glitches.

The collection of toll on the Villupuram-Nagapattinam Highway began at Kothatai near Chidambaram on Monday amid protests by private bus operators and political parties.

Though the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had announced that toll collection would resume from Poondiyankuppam to Sattanathapuram section of NH-45 A on Monday, it was not a smooth affair as private bus operators from Cuddalore and Chidambaram opposed the collection without completion of pending works.

Private bus services from Cuddalore to Chidambaram remained suspended till 1 p.m. .

A private bus operator said the company entrusted with the toll collection was charging ₹14,090 for buses for 50 single trips in a month. The number of trips for a monthly pass is very limited and this will prove very costly for the operators. The road work has also been completed only till Sattanathapuram and they have started collecting toll even before the works have been completed, he said.

Members belonging to the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Communist Party of India (M) also reached the spot soon after toll collection began. They staged a sit-in protest in front of the toll booth and attempted to stop the collection.

They contended that local residents near the toll plaza were using only the service road, and it was not possible for them to pay toll on daily basis for a short distance. They also charged that collecting toll amount from them was unfair. On information, police personnel rushed to the spot and pacified them.

Meanwhile, a conciliatory meeting was called by the Chidambaram Sub-Collector with private bus operators and it was decided that the pass for buses was fixed at ₹14,090 per month irrespective of the number of trips following which they withdrew their protest.