NHAI seeks police security to collect toll at NH66

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A week after the toll fee collection move by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was stopped at the newly opened toll plaza at Thiruvallam on the Kazhakoottam-Karode NH66 bypass stretch following protest from political parties, NHAI approached the state government seeking police protection to collect toll fee on Tuesday.

NHAI authorities have written to chief secretary V P Joy stating that police protection is inevitable as toll fee collection has been disrupted for the past eight days due to protests. The NHAI had earlier raised concern that the local police were not giving protection as all political parties, including the ruling LDF, were involved in the protest.