Toll gate at Kasaragod's Arikkodi: High Court to consider the suit filed by the action committee

Kumbala: The suit filed by the action committee against the installation of a new toll gate at Arikkodi in National Highway 66 will be considered by the Kerala High Court today. The court, that had already taken up the suit on September 9, had directed the National Highway Authority of India to inform the present state of the highway between Chengala and Periya where the second reach of roads begin. 

Justice N Nagaresh issued the directions while considering the suit filed by Ashraf Karla alleging that a new toll gate was being installed at Kumbala Arikkodi, just 20 kilometres away from Karnataka’s toll plaza in Thalappady. Currently, there is a toll gate in Karnataka’s side at Kerala – Karanataka border in Thalappady. Meanwhile, the construction works of another toll gate, 60 kilometres away, at Periya Chalinkal on the national highway in Kerala is also progressing. The authorities was planning to build the temporary toll plaza at Arikkodi  besides these. 

The plaintiff stated in the suit that the national highway has been completed until Chenkala, which is 40 kilometres from Thalappady, and the construction of the road in the rest of the area up to Chalinkal is not complete. The High Court then directed the NHAI to inform the present status of the national highway. The court had also verbally observed that toll couldn’t be collected if the construction is not done here. 

So, the action committee is hoping that they would receive a favourable verdict from the court. The officials said that the action committee would convene a meeting to discuss the future measures after the verdict comes today. Meanwhile, a section of people had filed police complaints alleging that children were made to participate in the protest marches.