Ramadoss flays hike in toll charges

There are 44 toll gates are located in Tamil Nadu. Among them 26 toll gates hike their charges from September 1 and 18 of them hike from April 1. 

On that basis, toll gates at Tiruvallur, Villupuram, Salem, Thoothukkudi, Velur, Nellai, Trichy, Madurai, Pudukottai and Kancheepuram are going to raise it by Rs 10 to Rs 25. As per the rules of NHAI after recovery of investment toll gates are allowed to collect 40 per cent of maintenance cost in the form of toll. 

However, in all the 18 toll gates investment has been recouped years ago. It is illegal to collect 100 per cent after recovering the investment. While the levy itself becomes illegal, hiking the tariff every year “is merciless,” Ramadoss pointed out. 

The government should abolish toll gate tariff and form a committee to monitor and carry out a public audit against toll gate receipts across the nation.