Congress Workers Stage Protest Against NH-66 Toll Collection in Kozhikode
Congress workers in Kozhikode staged a strong protest on Thursday against the commencement of toll collection on the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of NH-66. They gathered at the newly established Olavanna toll booth as toll operations began at 8 am. The protesters voiced their opposition to the toll imposition, arguing that road works have not been fully completed yet.
Protest Disrupts Toll Collection and Leads to Police Intervention
The Congress activists prevented the collection of toll fees and instructed vehicles to pass through without making any payment. This action caused long queues of vehicles to form at the toll plaza. Police personnel quickly reached the spot to manage the situation. They began forcibly removing the protesters, which resulted in skirmishes between the Congress workers and the police force.
Kozhikode DCC president K Praveenkumar strongly criticized the decision of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (Morth). He stated that permitting toll collection on this stretch before the completion of service road works is highly improper. Praveenkumar demanded the full completion of the Azhiyoor-Vengalam highway section and expedited service road works. He also called for exemptions from toll charges for residents living within a 20-kilometer radius of the toll plaza.
Congress Clarifies Stance and Announces Continued Agitation
"We will continue the agitation until our demands are met," Praveenkumar declared. He highlighted the inconvenience faced by residents, noting that even people from Perumanna now have to pay toll charges to travel to the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital. Congress leaders clarified that they are not opposed to toll collection in principle. However, they insisted that it should begin only after the service roads are fully completed and with appropriate exemptions for local residents.
Following the protest, police arrested and removed the Congress workers and leaders from the site. According to a Morth notification, light motor vehicles owned by permanent residents within a 20-kilometer radius of the Olavanna toll plaza are eligible for a monthly pass priced at Rs 340. The notified toll rates for one-way travel are Rs 130 for cars, jeeps, vans, and light motor vehicles, Rs 205 for commercial vehicles, light goods vehicles, and mini buses, and Rs 435 for buses and two-axle trucks.
Related Protests in Kasaragod District
Meanwhile, in a related development, Kasaragod police have booked around 500 identifiable protesters in connection with violent protests at Kumbala on Wednesday night. During those protests, toll gate equipment including cameras and FASTag sensors were vandalized. The toll gate along the Talapadi–Chengala stretch at Kumbala began operations on January 12, triggering protests by residents led by Manjeshwaram MLA AKM Ashraf.
The protesters alleged that toll collection violated norms regarding the minimum distance between toll plazas. They pointed out that the Kumbala toll gate is only 20 kilometers from the Talapadi toll plaza. Police also arrested and removed the MLA, who had been continuing an indefinite protest, and dismantled the protest shed along the highway.
