Surathkal toll plaza may be merged with the one at Hejamady

Surathkal toll plaza may be merged with the one at Hejamady

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 14, 2015: While residents of Surathkal and surrounding areas and the administration of NITK have opposed the setting up of a toll plaza near the institute, the State government too is not in favour of the counter continuing there, said Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim.

 

The government has asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to merge the Surathkal toll plaza with the Hejamady one, which is at a distance of about 9 km.

Meeting

The Chief Secretary has called a meeting to sort out the issue in Bengaluru on Wednesday, Mr. Ibrahim told presspersons here.

He said that during a recent traffic survey, it was found that over 24,000 passenger car unit (PCU) pass through National Highway 66 at Surathkal. [PCU measures impact of a mode of transport on traffic variables in comparison to a single standard passenger car].

While the flow could be high during peak hours, it could be fewer during the nights.

Nevertheless, an average 1,000 PCU pass through the proposed toll plaza. With just two toll booths on either side of the carriageway, the toll plaza at the most could handle 480 PCU per hour, considering each vehicle is cleared within 30 seconds. Still, hundreds of vehicles would remain without clearance for long thereby causing huge pile-ups on the busy national highway.

Appeal to NHAI

Mr. Ibrahim said that he has told the NHAI that the functioning of the toll plaza could result in huge traffic jams, leading to law and order problems.

He has, therefore, urged the NHAI to merge the Surathkal plaza with the one at Hejamady.

Moreover, the plaza is said to be a temporary one, for a period of just six months. For that short period, it is not advisable to have one at Surathkal, Mr. Ibrahim said.

 

Courtesy: The hindu