CHENNAI: Private bus and lorry operators have requested National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to forego an annual hike of toll fee to help the transport industry to bounce back from financial crunch and poor business due to the lockdown. This will ultimately affect the common man as the price of commodities would increase.
Toll fee would be increased from Rs 5 to Rs 30 for different categories of vehicles from September 1 in 22 out the 48 plazas in Tamil Nadu. The annual toll fee hike has been carried out based on the wholesale price index.
Amidst lockdown, the NHAI had approved the concessionaires increased the toll fees in 26 plazas on April 20. The authorities gave their approval following the Centre’s nod.
“The transport sector is already facing a severe financial crunch due to the lockdown. This step would destabilise the sector. At this juncture, we are pleading with the NHAI to refrain from increasing the toll fee. But there is no response,” said S Yuvaraj, president of Tamil Nadu State Lorry Owners’ Welfare Federation.
He added that they have requested authorities to suspend the toll collection for the next six months.
