Toll collection at Panemangalore plaza stopped after protests
December 6, 2013
Stanley Pinto,TNN |
Residents of Bantwal Taluk had warned NHAI that they will carry out protests if they open a road toll booth at Brahmarakootlu without closing the Panemangalore bridge toll plaza.
Earlier, NHAI had notified that toll collection would commence at Brahmarakootlu on Mangalore – Bangalore National Highway on Thursday.
The BJP took the lead to organize the protest with former MLA Padmanabha Kottari, Rukmayya Poojari, former ZP member Thungappa Bangera and others blocking traffic at Panemangalore toll booth. NHAI officials, who arrived at the spot, held discussions with the BJP leaders and assured them that the uncertainty over the two toll booths will be cleared in three days and they will bring the matter to the notice of their higher ups.
Though some party workers started dismantling the toll booth, the leaders managed to pacify them.
Meanwhile, SDPI members carried out a protest asking NHAI to suspend toll collection till all work pertaining to NH is completed.
The new toll booth at Brahmarakootlu caused traffic jams as the approach road to the toll plaza was narrow. The Brahmarakootlu toll collection, which was stopped due to public protests, resumed after they were given police protection.
A few days ago, the issue was raised at a meeting called by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel with NHAI officials. Social activist Govinda Prabhu had said that Panemangalore bridge toll collection should be stopped as the new toll booth is just five km away from it.
At the meeting the villagers had pointed out that NHAI cannot operate two toll booths within a stretch of 60 km. However, NHAI project director Shriram Mishra had clarified that the restriction on toll gates is separate for roads and bridges.
Pay toll on Padil-BC Road from Thursday
December 3, 2013
MANGALORE: Travel to BC Road from Mangalore is set to get costlier. The National Highways Authority of India has decided to collect user fee on the 18.60 km National Highway Road from December 5 midnight. This will mean that travel- either by bus or own vehicle, barring two wheelers – will become costlier.
PIL dubs toll tax collection in state illegal
November 29, 2013
TNN |
After preliminary arguments, the court issued notice to the authorities concerned and kept further hearing three weeks later, advocate Pandit said.
Trial on for toll payment using mobiles
November 22, 2013
OUR BUREAU |
BANGALORE |
Electronic tolling trial through use of mobile phones is currently on in major highways, said Oscar Fernandes, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways.Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) – EXCON 2013, he said “the trial is on to use the latest technology which establishes contacts with the toll booth almost a kilometre away for the toll gate to open.”When implemented, this will help overcome major pile-up of traffic at toll gates.“The government is also aware that the infrastructure projects often suffer from lack of funding or subject to many conditions by the lenders before funding. So, the government has directed the lenders to take ‘assets’ into account for funding projects. We are also stressing on development of maintenance-free roads which initially may cost a little more but in the long run, is much more economical,” he added.
In his address, Karnataka Minister for Transport, Ramalinga Reddy, said “Karnataka has a close association with CII to promote the industries of the state. We have enormous plan for the growth of the state across all districts.”
Reddy mentioned that one such initiative is the Bangalore-Mumbai Economic Corridor.
S. Gopalakrishnan, CII President, said that EXCON this year has attained new heights with 17 per cent growth in number of participants.
He pointed out that the pace of growth in infrastructure in India has not kept pace with demands and it is a major challenge for the country. Highways, modern bridges, world-class airports, reliable power, and clean water are in desperately short supply.
Vipin Sondhi, Chairman, EXCON 2013, said “The scope and reach of EXCON has been growing over the years and today we see the greatest number of industry and visitor participation, making it the biggest ever exhibition not just in India but also in South Asia.”
Sumit Mazumder, CII Vice-President, said that in India, construction is the second largest economic activity after agriculture. Construction accounts for nearly 65 per cent of the total investment in infrastructure and is expected to be the biggest beneficiary of the surge in infrastructure investment over the next five years.
(This article was published on November 21, 2013)
Support swells to abolish toll tax
November 21, 2013
TNN
Bharuch: The support for citizens’ movement to abolish the toll tax from Zadeshwar toll plaza on national highway 8 near Bharuch is swelling.
On the second day of agitation, large number of people pledged support to the demand to remove toll tax that is causing long and frustrating traffic snarls on the highway.
Voluntary organizations like Lions Club of Bharuch, Rotary Club of Bharuch and Ankleshwar, Stree Niketan and Stree Mandal, JCI Ankleshwar, Ankleshwar, Panoli and Jhagadia Industries Association, Mahavir International and others have joined the movement.
The people shouted slogans to remove the toll tax for an ease traffic movement.
Kamlesh Udani, convener of Bharuch Citizen Council said, “We have given our represenations to Ahmed Patel and asked him to intervene in the matter. We are hopeful of some positive result.”
Bharuch MLA Dushyant Patel also talked to minister for roads and buildings Anandiben Patel and appraised her about traffic situation.
Congress spokesman Nazu Fadwala said, “Ahmedbhai personally met Prime Minister and the result will come out soon in the interest of people.”
No takers for toll projects
November 21, 2013
Anil Kumar M, TNN
BANGALORE: The public private partnership(PPP) arrangement for levying tolls on major highways in the state has hit a roadblock with no private company bidding for the project.
While low traffic volume due to ban on mining is the main reason, the high interest rate sought by financial institutions has also discouraged toll operators.
User fee for roads was proposed when mining was at its peak. The toll revenue was meant for upkeep of roads used by mining companies to transport iron ore to ports. “Now, the state government plans to develop and maintain these roads until mining resumes. The National Highways Authority of India has all weather-roads, and toll is charged on most,” a senior official in the public works department told TOI.
The government also wanted to provide better infrastructure to industrialists who had raised the issue of bad roads at two Global Investors’ Meets. As more than 60% of the investment promises were committed for North Karnataka, more highways in that region were chosen for imposing a toll.
Of the 12 highways opened for toll, only four have attracted bids. The toll operation in the 141-km Vagdhari-Ripponpalli stretch connecting Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh near Gulbarga has already started.
Companies have evinced interest in three highways – Dharwad-Alnavara-Ramanagara (SH-34, 60km), Chikkanayakamahalli-Tipatur-Hassan (SH-71, 74km) and Ginigere-Gangavathi-Sindhanur (SH-23, 83km).
Though Section 194 of the Karnataka State Highways Act, 1964, empowers the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd to collect a user fee, no government has dared to toll roads over the past 48 years as they fear a political backlash.
“In the past six years, nearly 2,000km of state highways have been completed by KRDCL at a cost of nearly Rs 3,000 crore, primarily with loans from the World Bank and Hudco. The government has to repay the loans with interest and therefore found it necessary to levy a user fee,” the official said.
Toll roads
Kalmala-Shiggaon (SH-23): 77km
Hattigudur-Humnabad (SH-19): 96km
Sankeshwar-Sangam (SH-44): 73km
Aurad-Sadashivagarh (SH-34): 56km
Raichur-Bachi (SH-20): 175km
Hiriyur-Bellary (SH-19): 142km
Bagalkot-Biligiriranganabetta (SH-57): 12km
Sindagi-Kondagal (SH-16): 94km
(SH: State Highway)
Toll tax abolished at Zadeshwar on NH-8
November 19, 2013
Harish Joshi, TNN |
On Monday, large number of people gathered at Zadeshwar toll tax plaza demanding abolishing the tax with immediate affect. They said that the tax collection is badly affecting the traffic movement.
Bharuch MLA Dushyant Patel, who is lead the agitation, asked the toll tax contractor to stop collecting tax till new bridge is constructed on Narmada. Daily commuters and people gathered to protest peacefully. The computer and other accessories from toll counters were removed by the contractor and informed National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials about demand of people.
Several NGOs under the banner of Bharuch Citizen Council also joined movement.
“Large number travelers get stranded on the highway for for hours in massive traffic jam due to toll tax plaza near Zadeshwar. The tax collection period was over in December 2012 and only one track is operational as old Sardar Bridge declared as non operational. Despite there being no need of tax collection, the time limit was extended till March 2014. The toll plaza itself is big obstacle in traffic movement hence it is in the interest of people to remove the same and stop tolll collection,” he said. N K Patel of Bharuch Citizens Council said, “NHAI officials and politicians are not sensitive enough about this burning issue. They don’t care for the people suffering in traffic and this has led to a movement to remove toll tax.”
Irrespective of political parties, we are going to ask for a time-bound program of construction of damaged bridges near Golden Bridge and Sardar bridge.”
Coming soon: Pay your highway toll through smartphones
November 19, 2013
Mihir Mishra :
Road commuters in the country will soon have the option of making their toll payments through mobile phones or tablets and can avail this service by downloading the application which is set to be available on Android, iOS and BlackBerry platforms.”We have asked the company that is providing the application to test it at our toll plazas and they are to start the pilot on the 114-km-long Tumkur-Chitradurga section of NH-4,” said a senior road transport ministry official.
The application called ‘m-toll’ has been developed by ConnectXcite Mobi India Ltd and will be available for download from December-end.
“The pilot will begin from December-end and the app will also come at the same time. The pilot will be done in two phases. We will start the test with our vehicles initially and move to vehicles using the toll plaza regularly in the second phase,” said Pankaj Chaturvedi, Country head for ConnectXcite in India.
Road users will need to download the application on their mobile phones or tablets and fill in their details. The server, which will be installed at the toll plazas, will detect their mobile phones and the money will be automatically deducted.
“Road users can make the payment through their pre-paid phone balance, post-paid phone account, credit cards, net banking and even cash-based scratch cards that every concessionaire will be authorised to sell,” said Chaturvedi.
Every payment made through other modes, apart from the scratch card sold by the toll plaza operator, will reach the toll plaza operators account in 24 hours from the time payment is made.
“In case three people, with m-toll on their mobiles, are travelling together in a car, all will get an indication to opt for payment. The money will be deducted from the account of the mobile that opts for it. In case no one opts for payment, money will be deducted from the oldest registered mobile phone,” Chaturvedi further explained.
He added that the registered mobile owner will be verified personally in case the handset being used to make payment switches off due some issues.
To ensure smooth passage for commuters at toll plazas, the road transport ministry is also doing a pilot on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.
A committee under Nandan Nilekani has suggested introduction of RFID cards for smooth passage on toll plazas at national highways.
Unlike the mobile system, RFID requires a chip-embedded sticker to be put on the vehicles and money gets deducted at the toll plazas automatically, through which the vehicles pass. Unlike the mobile system, money collected from it is to be pooled electronically at one place and distributed later among all toll plaza operators.
Source-http://www.indianexpress.com
Toll turmoil: Ministers likely to meet Prithviraj Chavan today
October 24, 2013
Patil, Mushrif and minister of home Satej Patilhad earlier said they would talk to the chief minister and try to resolve the row, The Kolhapur Anti-Toll Committee (KATC) has been opposing the government’s decision to collect toll on the inter-city roads.
“It’s inconsequential whether the meeting with the CM is held or not. We will continue opposing collection of toll in the city. Our activists have been appealing to the commuters not to pay toll at Shiroli, Puikhadi and Phulewadi toll plazas. People from Kolhapur, having vehicles with MH 09 numbers, are refusing to pay the toll and responding to our call,” said Niwas Salokhe, the convener of KATC.
In the meantime, Karvir Kamgar Sangh, a workers’ union affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress, presented a memorandum to assistant labor commissioner office, demanding an inquiry into the IRB Company’s registration or licence under Bombay Shops and Establishment acts. Besides, the union asked the office to investigate if the company was following the set of 11 laws for the workers. “The memorandum was submitted to Suhas Kadam, the assistant labour commissioner. Our office has assured an inquiry,” said Mangesh Sawant, a senior labour department officer.
IRB Company started collecting toll from October 17 after the high court directed the state government and district police administration to provide protection to the toll plazas in the city.
Thumbs up from commuters, toll collection on
October 21, 2013
KOLHAPUR: Though some commuters responded to the appeal fromthe Kolhapur Anti-Toll Committee (KATC) at Phulewadi toll plaza and refused to pay the tax to the IRB Company, the majority chose to pay the levy at other eight plazas while entering the city.The KATC on Friday evening changed its agenda and called for civil disobedience to avoid the arrests of its activists. The KATC decided to put up boards at 200 metres from all the nine toll collection plazas appealing to the commuters not to pay toll.
The first of those banners came up on Saturday evening about 100 metres from the Phulewadi toll booth as per the directions from the district police. The banner reads ‘The vehicle owners should refuse to pay the toll and if the collectors force to pay the toll then the vehicle owners should contact the police officials.’
Vasant Deshmane from the Karvir taluka had a smile on his face after he refused to pay the toll at Phulewadi toll plaza. “We are not going to pay the toll for the dirty roads. The city has been turned into a prison by setting up the toll plazas at all the major entrances,” he said.
Like Deshmane, many vehicle owners entering the city were cheered when they registered their protest democratically by not paying the toll. The scene at the toll plaza was dramatic as vehicles owners joined the chorus of “We are not going to pay the toll” after one commuter raised the slogan. The toll collectors also did not force the people to pay the toll.
KATC members said that similar banners will be raised at every toll plaza on Sunday. The leaders of the anti-toll committee were quite enthused with the response their agitation received on Saturday.
“We are protesting democratically. It was believed that the anti-toll movement failed after the toll collection started. However, our message has reached people and they are participating in the movement by refusing to pay the toll,” Nivas Salokhe, KATC convenor, said.
Salokhe further said, “The Bombay high court has given the directives to provide police protection to the toll booths and not for toll collection. However, the IRB Company has started the toll collection despite any orders from the HC. We are going to raise such banners in all parts of the city so that our movement against the toll will bear result without hampering the law and order situation.”
Chandradip Narke, Shivsena MLA from Karvir taluka, appealed to the people to refuse payment of the toll. “The people have participated in the movement by refusing the toll. The police can step up the security at any time but cannot force the people to pay the toll,” said Narke.
Featured Insights
- Gurugram: Hero Honda chowk to not choke anymore as Delhi-Jaipur flyover set to open soon
- Future of extensive Smart City projects uncertain
- Financiers express interest for Mumbai-Nagpur super expressway
- Indian start-ups to double by 2020: Nasscom
- SBI inks pact with IIT-Kharagpur for fintech innovation
- Supreme Court refuses to stay Allahabad HC order of making DND fly-way toll-free
- An analysis by CRISIL on the pace of road construction
- Mumbai University gives way for better connectivity at BKC
- Debit card scare: A lesson for banks and their customers
- What is a Smart City ?
The ITW Team
 Sachin Bhatia Chief Editor |
Leisure
E-Z Pass Only
Improved Car Seat Belt 40% Less Accidents
NHAI's First ETC(Electronic Toll Collection) PLAZA
- ETC based on Microwave Technology(CEN 278) implemented at Delhi - Gurgaon Super Connectivity
Technology by: -Kapsch Metro JV.
News Categories
- NHAI (332)
- Highway (233)
- BOT (231)
- Projects (207)
- Default (204)
- Road (182)
- About (175)
- Infrastructure (160)
- Tolling (108)
- Investment and Finance (102)
- Expressway (98)
- Construction (90)
- Smart City (87)
- NHDP (77)
- ITS (65)
- International (55)
- Delhi (53)
- Safety (53)
- Toll Plaza (51)
- Toll Management System (50)