Political parties, organisations intensify protest against toll collection at Nattika on NH66

Tension flared at the Nattika toll plaza on National Highway 66 on Tuesday as LDF and UDF workers took out separate marches demanding the suspension of toll collection, prompting the police to resort to a lathicharge and use water cannons to disperse protesters. Several protesters, including CPI(M) district secretary K.V. Abdul Khader, were injured in the water cannon operation. The police detained several protesters and arrested others as the agitation intensified.

The situation turned volatile when protesters attempted to push through police barricades and storm the toll plaza in protest against the resumption of toll collection. The police used water cannons to drive them back before taking protesters into custody.

Traffic along the national highway remained completely disrupted for hours as the authorities shut the toll plaza to contain the agitation. Vehicles were stranded on the highway before being diverted through alternative routes. The protests intensified after toll collection, which began on October 8, was suspended twice following widespread opposition. The collection resumed on Monday afternoon after an all-party meeting convened by the District Collector failed to reach a consensus.

The resumption came even as a meeting to discuss the toll issue was under way at the Collectorate. The National Highways Authority had reportedly informed stakeholders that toll collection would remain suspended until an expert committee submitted its inspection report. Protesters alleged that the collection was restarted even before the discussions could conclude.

Various political and social organisations have been opposing the collection of toll on NH 66 before the completion of key construction works, including bridges and approach roads.

Protesters said collecting toll without completing the highway infrastructure amounted to a challenge to the public. They demanded the immediate completion of pending bridges and approach roads and called for the installation of adequate warning and directional signboards to ensure the safety of motorists, particularly amid continuing accidents along the highway.