Toll collection on Kozhikode bypass from January 1 is only a trial run, says NHAI

Even as the Congress party staged a protest on Wednesday against the introduction of toll on the Kozhikode bypass, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has clarified that the reported collection commencing on January 1 is just a full-fledged trial run.

A final decision on permanent implementation remains pending till the 28.4-km Ramanattukara–Vengalam stretch of the NH 66 is fully completed. Besides, it has to undergo several formal procedures, including public notification and consultations with law enforcement agencies including the police.

Raj Lal Singh, an NHAI official, told The Hindu that the authority had been conducting dry runs for some time and will hold a full-scale trial run on January 1 to assess readiness. “We are testing facilities, equipment, manpower deployment, and system preparedness. Actual toll collection will begin only after completing all formal procedures,” he said.

The toll collection would commence only after issuing a formal notification, coordinating with the police, informing the public in advance, and completing other statutory requirements under the National Highway Fee Rules, Mr. Singh said.

The clarification came after reports carried by a section of the media said that toll collection would begin on January 1 at the Olavanna toll plaza. These reports triggered protests by the Congress party, which staged a demonstration in front of the Pantheerankavu toll plaza. District Congress Committee president K. Praveenkumar inaugurated the protest in the morning.

Meanwhile, Congress leader and Kozhikode MP, M.K. Raghavan, wrote to Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, opposing toll collection and describing the move as “illegal” in view of the incomplete construction of the NH-66 bypass.

In a press release, he said toll collection could not be justified when basic infrastructure remained unfinished and argued that imposing tolls before completing construction works and service roads was against the provisions of the National Highway Fee Rules.

Mr. Raghavan also pointed out that construction work was still under way at several locations, including Korappuzha, Malaparamba, and Mampuzha, and said that the absence of continuous service roads had already caused hardship to local residents and traders.

Under the proposed fee structure for toll collection, cars and small vehicles will be charged ₹90 for a single trip and ₹135 for a return journey within 24 hours. Larger vehicles, including buses and trucks, attract higher charges, with rates going up to ₹575 for a single trip. Residents living within a 20-km radius of the toll plaza can avail monthly passes for unlimited travel at ₹340.