Steephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod
Kasargod, Feb 3: Bowing to sustained public pressure, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has ordered an immediate halt to toll collection at the Kumble Arikkady toll plaza on the National Highway, assuring that the toll gate will be shut within the next 24 hours.
The decision comes after nearly a month of intense agitation against the toll collection, during which an anti-toll protest committee was formed and demonstrations were held alongside legal action.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to stop toll operations at the location.
The toll plaza had begun collecting fees in violation of ministry guidelines, which stipulate that there must be a minimum distance of 60 km between two toll plazas. However, the Kumble Arikkady toll gate was set up at a distance of just 23 km, triggering widespread opposition from local residents.
The protest was led by Manjeshwar MLA A K M Ashraf, with all political parties and organisations except the BJP coming together to form an anti-toll struggle committee. As the agitation gathered momentum, the situation escalated and turned violent. Protesters allegedly attacked the toll gate, causing damage to cameras, barricades, glass panels and other infrastructure.
The MLA staged a round-the-clock dharna at the site, and tensions continued to rise with each passing day. Eventually, police dismantled the protest shed and arrested MLA Ashraf along with several protest committee leaders. CPM leader C A Zubair, Congress leader Lakshmana Prabhu, Ashraf Karle, and others were at the forefront of the agitation.
Following the Centre’s decision to withdraw toll collection, the protest committee celebrated the move with victory celebrations in Kumbala. Reacting to the development, MLA Ashraf and CPM leader Zubair said the decision marked the success of a struggle that had continued for nearly two months.
The BJP welcomed the Centre’s decision, with district president M L Ashwini congratulating union minister Nitin Gadkari. BJP leaders and workers also took out a celebratory procession to mark the decision.