KOCHI: The toll collection on Aroor-Kumbalam bridge along the National Highway scheduled to begin on Friday has been postponed. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials said that the toll collection will begin only by next week. The NHAI decided to postpone the toll collection as the arrangements were not complete. “There are lot of preparations to be done for operating the toll plaza which include setting up the charts and accounts for toll collection. People have to come from Hyderabad and Vijayawada to work in the toll plaza. We will start operating the toll booth only when these things are in place,” said C T Abraham, project director, National Highway Authority of India. It was the state Cabinet which met on Wednesday that decided to begin the toll collection from Friday. The state government has decided to exclude people from Kumbalam grama panchayat from paying the toll. The government will contribute the amount to NHAI. Meanwhile, in the wake of reports that toll collection will begin on Friday, a number of organisations took out protest march and dharna near the toll plaza. The passengers associations were also part of the protests. The Panangad Police which reached the spot took them into custody. They were later released on bail.The National Highway Samrakshana Samithi alleged that the government has violated an earlier agreement made with them that a decision would only be taken based on the report by an expert panel. “It is an issue that affects people from all walks of life. But the government is trying to fool the people by giving some relaxations to the locals,” the samithi members said.The National Highway Samrakshana Samithi took out a protest march to the toll plaza at Kumbalam. NH 17 State Action Council general convenor T K Sudheer Kumar presided over while action council state chairman E V Mohammadali delivered the keynote address. The representatives of the Janakeeya Prathirosha Samithi, PDP, SUCI-Communist, KCYM, Coordination Committee and Mahila Samskarika Sanghatana also took part in the protest. There are allegations that the toll plaza is functioning on Aroor-Kumbalam bridge without the basic facilities. The street lamps are not working, the service roads do not have enough width and hence they are being used only for parking vehicles. Many other facilities like a crash barrier and an ambulance service are also lacking,” the local people said.
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