Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is planning to collect tolls on roads built with funds from KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board). The move is to impose tolls on roads and bridges having a construction cost of over Rs 50 crore.

A recommendation in this regard from KIIFB has been approved by a meeting presided over by the Chief Minister and attended by the Law and Finance Ministers. The procedures to collect the toll will be initiated once the proposal receives the Cabinet nod. Meanwhile, KIIFB has already launched a study on the measures to be taken to implement the decision. When the new decision comes into force, the state will witness largescale tolls on roads, including the hill and coastal highways built with KIIFB funding.

Incidentally, toll collection was earlier in place on certain state highways in Kerala. However, the government led by Congress Chief Minister the late Oommen Chandy had cancelled the toll on these roads. Currently, toll is collected only on national highways in Kerala.

The present state government had a rethink on the issue after the Central Government pointed out that there was no revenue from KIIFB-funded projects and designated all KIIFB loans under the state’s borrowing limit. Subsequently, the state government decided to create revenue from KIIFB-funded roads and bridges by introducing tolls. The government is also considering a plan to charge a rent on buildings constructed with KIIFB funds.

Finance Minister K N Balagopal said that the government is yet to take a final decision on the matter. “But we need to ensure income from ongoing and upcoming KIIFB projects, for which some proposals are being considered,” he said.

According to Industries Minister P Rajeev, the state is facing a development crisis as the Centre is denying loans to the state citing the lack of revenue from KIIFB projects.

A majority of the 616 projects implemented by the Kerala Public Works Department are roads and bridges. Authorities are planning to charge a toll based on the distance travelled by road users. Local residents would be exempted.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister K Rajan said that the Cabinet is yet to take a decision on the toll collection and refused to comment on the matter.