Tamil Nadu: NHAI To Increase User Fees At 19 Toll Plazas

Pattali Makkal Katchi and Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association oppose the NHAI’s move to increase the user fee at toll plazas in the state.

Toll Plaza (Representation Picture)

Chennai: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to increase vehicle user fees at 19 toll plazas in Tamil Nadu from September 1. 

According to a report from IANS, the regional officer of NHAI Pawan Kumar in a statement said that the user fee would be increased by 7 to 10% at some other places while in other places, it would be minimal.

The report further said that Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has already opposed the hike in user fees at toll plazas and the party’s founder S Ramadoss has threatened to conduct a protest march against it.

Earlier, Ramadoss had called upon the NHAI to present a white paper on its finances explaining the cost incurred to set up toll plazas in the state and fees collected from the users. He also sought a detailed statement on the expenses and profit they obtain from user fee collection at toll plazas, according to the report. 

Quoting Ramadoss, the report said that the proposed hike is huge and it would have an impact on the prices of essential commodities in the state. 

Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association has also opposed the NHAI’s move to increase the user fee at toll plazas in the state. Speaking to IANS, one of the senior members of the association, R Nagarathnam said that NHAI should refrain from increasing the user fees because it would increase their burden as their business has been in standstill for the past 18 months.