A new committee has been formed to address the concerns raised by the local residents of Vadakkanchery and neighbouring places in connection with the passage through the toll gates on the National Highway-544 at Panniyankara.
A meeting of all stakeholders held on Tuesday decided to continue free passage for the people of six neighbouring panchayats. However, as the demand for inclusion of more panchayats persisted, a committee of people’s representatives and National Highways Authority of India and toll plaza officials was formed to find a solution. The committee is expected to reach a consensus by March 15.
The committee comprises an MP, MLAs, District Collector, NHAI and toll plaza officials. The meeting suggested free passage for four-wheel autorickshaws and school vehicles.
The toll authorities stuck to their stand that people living within five-kilometre radius from the toll plaza would be allowed free passage. It was the same stand they took in a meeting held on January 5.
Although Tuesday’s meeting demanded that those living within 10 km radius be given free passage, the toll authorities refused to agree. The subcommittee was formed largely to address this dispute.
Although the toll authorities had announced that collection of toll from local residents would start from Monday last, the move was stopped following the intervention of P.P. Sumod, MLA.
Mr. Sumod presided over the meeting held at Vadakkanchery. K. Radhakrishnan, MP, K.D. Prasenan, MLA, District Collector G. Priyanka, CPI(M) State committee member C.K. Rajendran, district committee member K.N. Sukumaran, area secretary T. Kannan, NHAI technical manager Bijukumar, toll plaza manager Mukundan, Alathur DySP N. Muraleedharan, Vadakkanchery CI K.P. Benny, and Vadakkanchery panchayat vice president V.J. Usanar spoke.
Published - February 19, 2025 07:44 pm IST
