Chennai: Tamil Nadu Public Works Department (PWD) and highways minister EV Velu on Thursday informed the assembly that the Tamil Nadu government would close 32 toll plazas on the national highways. According to a Times of India report, the total number of toll plazas on national highways would come down to 16 from 48, the minister said.
The minister, as per the report, said that the neighboring Kerala state has reduced the number of toll plazas to three as per the provisions of the (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008. According to the rule, Tamil Nadu should have only 16 toll plazas, the minister added.
According to the report, the rule says that there should be a minimum of 60 kilometres between two toll plazas and at present, Tamil Nadu has about 48 toll plazas and of which, 27 are in violation of rules.
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The report said that the minister was replying to a calling attention motion moved by MH Jawahirullah of Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) on the hike in toll fee.
Pointing out the sub-section of the rule which says no toll plaza should be within 10 kilometre radius of Corporation and municipality limits, he said that there are at least five toll plazas - Nemili near Sriperumbudur, Chennasamudram, Vanagaram, Paranur near Chengelpet and Surapattu - that violate this subsection, according to the report.
Quoting the minister, the report further said that necessary action would be taken to close them down as per the directions of the chief minister and the same was communicated to the union ministry for road transport and highways.