Residents seek exemption of taxes for non-commercial vehicles at Pallikonda toll plaza
Residents said complete exemption of toll fee will help them cut travel cost and boost agriculture in the area
Residents in 12 farming villages have been demanding exemption of taxes at a toll plaza in Pallikonda town on the Chennai – Bengaluru Highway (NH 48), which is maintained by National Authority of India (NHAI).
“The stretch helps reach government hospitals in big towns like Gudiyatham, Anaicut, Vellore towns easier. Exemption of toll should be given to locals, who are mostly marginal farmers and petty traders,” said B. Pasupathi, a resident.
As per study, more than 75,000 vehicles, mainly trucks and container lorries, use the stretch to reach Chennai and Bengaluru every day. The stretch has at least 20 underpasses to allow residents to cross the stretch. It also has four toll plazas between Walajah (Ranipet) and Krishnagiri, a distance of 148 km. “Special passes at nominal rates have been provided to residents in surrounding villages. Complete waiver of toll fee for residents is not feasible,” a NHAI official told The Hindu.
At present, residents within a 20-km-radius of Pallikonda toll plaza are provided with a monthly special pass for non-commercial vehicles, with a fee of ₹360. Vehicles should be registered with a local permanent address to avail special passes. “Most of the residents are farmers and tractors are not allowed to pass the toll plaza, as they have been classified as commercial vehicles. After harvest, a large number of tractors are roped in to transport paddy to government godowns in towns. The toll plaza should exempt vehicles that form part of farming activity,” said T. Veeraiyah, a farmer.
Residents said complete exemption of toll fee will help them cut travel cost and boost agriculture in the area.
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