Communist Party of India (Marxist) has opposed the move by NHAI in starting toll collection on Tirumangalam-Therkku Venganallur fourway highway at Nathampatti toll plaza even as the road widening work remained incomplete for some 35 km between Tirumangalam and Vadugapatti.

The party’s Virudhunagar district committee meeting was held on Saturday. Party district committee member, V. Murugan presided.

A resolution passed at the meeting said that the widening of the Tirumangalam-Sengottai highway into a fourway road was under way. Construction of flyovers and underpass were still going on at Alagapuri, Subbulapuram, T. Pudupatti, Sedapatti junction, T. Kallupatti bypass and Kunnathur. Similarly, at various points the approach roads connecting the old road with the by-pass roads were yet to be laid.

Only after completing the construction work of all the underpasses and flyovers, the NHAI officials should conduct a joint inspection and get proper approval from the District Collector for collection of toll.

However, setting aside all the rules, the NHAI officials have started to collect the toll at Nathampatti toll plaza since June 15 even as the construction works were left incomplete. The party has condemned this act of NHAI.

Besides, as per the NHAI rules, the minimum distance between two toll plazas should be 60 km. However, the new toll plaza at Nathampatti has been located just 49 km away from Kappalur toll plaza in Tirumangalam. This is a major violation of its own rules.

This would greatly affect the light and heavy vehicle operators and the members of the public. The party has demanded that the collection of toll was an exploitation of the common man for the benefit of big organisations and it should be stopped immediately.

The State Government and the district administration should immediately intervene failure of which, the CPI (M) would mobilise the public and cargo vehicle operators and stage a protest, the resolution said.