NHAI: Pay Surathkal toll at Hejmadi plaza from Dec 1

Mangaluru: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Thursday revised the user fee rates to be collected at Hejmadi tollgate after the merger of Surathkal toll plaza. Accordingly, all vehicles will have to pay an additional toll of Surathkal plaza at the Hejmadi tollgate with effect from December 1.
The present fee for single trip at Surathkal plaza for light motor vehicles (LMVs) like car, jeep, van, etc, is Rs 60 and it is Rs 40 at Hejmadi plaza. After the merger of Surathkal gate, the toll for LMVs at Hejmadi will be Rs 100. The present fee for return trips for LMVs at Surathkal is Rs 90 and Rs 65 at Hejmadi. After the merger of Surathkal tollgate, the fee for return trips for LMVs at Hejmadi will be Rs 155. The present fee for monthly pass valid for 50 single trips for LMVs at Surathkal plaza is Rs 2,050 and Rs 1,410 at Hejmadi. After the merger, the rounded-off fee for monthly pass valid for 50 single trips for LMVs at Hejmadi will be Rs 3,460.
Similarly, buses, trucks and other heavy vehicles will also have to pay the toll of Surathkal plaza at Hejmadi after the merger. Buses that are paying Rs 6,940 and Rs 4,765 for monthly pass for 50 single trips at Surathkal and Hejmadi, respectively, will have to pay Rs 11,705 at Hejmadi after the merger.
In a letter to the Udupi DC on Thursday, NHAI project director H S Lingegowda has stated that the calculation of tollable length has been done as per the National Highways Fee (determination of rates and collection) Amendment Rules-2010, and National Highways Fee (determination of rates and collection) Amendment Rules-2014.
“Based on the continuous request by the government of Karnataka, local public/ VIP references, the competent authority has accorded the approval for the merger of Surathkal toll plaza with adjacent Hejmadi toll plaza. Accordingly, user fee for Surathkal toll plaza will now be charged at Hejmadi toll plaza by adding the toll fee for both the stretches,” Lingegowda explained.
NHAI has requested Udupi district administration to provide necessary support, including police protection, to ensure that there are no law and order issues at Hejmadi after the merger of Surathkal tollgate.