KOCHI: With the state cabinet which met on Wednesday turning down the demand to stop toll collection at Kumbalam on NH 47, the National Highway Protection Council has decided to go ahead with the strike. Though the Cabinet decided to give relaxation to the locals, it did not take any decision to stop toll collection at Kumbalam.The meeting of the National Highway Protection Council held in Kochi has decided to extend the strike to other parts of the state as well. "Our demand was not to relax the toll rates but to end the toll collection. We will go ahead with the strike till the authorities decide to stop it," said C R Neelakantan, leader of the National Highway Protection Council. "We have decided to start the agitation in Thrissur, too. As a first step in this regard, a public convention will be organised in Thrissur on June 29, he said. "Our argument is that we don't have to give toll as we pay various taxes related to road and vehicles," he said. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had started collection of toll at Kumbalam on NH 47 on Saturday. But it had to stop the toll collection due to strong protests by the locals and various other organisations. So the government decided to discuss the issue in the state cabinet.The NHAI had already made it clear that they would relax the toll rates for the locals. According to NHAI, the locals will be divided into two categories. Those residing within the 10-km-radius of the toll plaza at Kumbalam will have to pay only Rs 150 for a month. Those residing within 20-km-radius should pay Rs 300 a month. But the NHAI is ready to provide the relaxation only to cars.The Union Transport Ministry has made it clear that the state government will have to bear the burden if toll collection has to be stopped at Kumbalam. According to the ministry, it has fixed a uniform toll rate for the entire country. So there can't be any relaxation for a particular state.
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