Thiruvananthapuram/ Alappuzha: The state government is preparing to amend rules to facilitate toll collection on roads constructed through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). Tolls will be levied for every 30 kilometres travelled.

The amendment also aims to introduce AI-based toll collection, eliminating the need for establishing traditional toll booths. If the draft proposal is approved, the government plans to either present the bill in the upcoming legislative assembly session or bring out an ordinance afterward to implement the amendment.

This move marks a sharp reversal from the assurance given by former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac during the first Pinarayi Vijayan government, which had promised that no toll would be levied to generate revenue for KIIFB.

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The Opposition has strongly objected to the proposal, warning of large-scale protests if the government proceeds with toll collection.

“If they attempt to implement this, it will be blocked. The government is already burdening the public by collecting fuel cess and half of the Motor Vehicle tax for KIIFB, and now they want to add tolls on top of that. The CPM itself has protested against toll collection in the past,” said KPCC president K Sudhakaran.

Opposition Leader VD Satheesan also echoed the concerns and said , “the financial crisis the state government faces is due to its extravagance, corruption, and backdoor appointments. Now, they are trying to shift the burden onto the people. We have repeatedly warned that KIIFB would become a liability.”

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The practice of toll collection on the state’s roads began to be gradually phased out during the tenure of the Oommen Chandy- led government.  Subsequently, former PWD minister G Sudhakaran completely phased out toll collection on state roads during the first Pinarayi government. 

A study on the feasibility of toll collection suggests that tolls should only be imposed on long-distance roads, similar to the National Highways. It also recommends implementing the system on a trial basis on a selected roads. The proposed toll rates will be lower than those charged on National Highways.

Meanwhile, KIIFB officials have clarified that no discussions have been held regarding whether toll collection should apply only to newly constructed roads or include existing ones. They stated that the final decision on which roads will be subject to toll collection rests with the state government.

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