Closing down of the toll plaza at Navalur in Chennai!!
Posted on: 08/Jun/2023 8:57:43 AM
The toll plaza at Navalur in OMR in Chennai is just one kilometer from the GCC limits. Here, bad roads and higher toll amount collection have been creating huge problems for many. Now, the residents from Navalur have requested the CM of TN Mr. MK. Stalin to close this toll plaza.
From the petition of Mr. Harsha Koda, co-founder of the Federation of the OMR Resident Associations, it was clear that due to the CMRL works that has been going on in the southern half of the OMR between Sholinganallur and Navalur, the roads has been reduced to 2 lanes on each sides. This has been leading to many traffic jams and inconvenience etc. He mentioned that the toll amount was being collected despite the reduced road width. Full toll rate is being charged by TNRDC despite the fact that 6 lane here has become a 4 lane now.
Now, OMR is the second most expensive toll road in the entire country (at a rate of Rs 5 per km) as it collects Rs 33 for cars for a road of 7km from Navalur to Sholinganallur.
There are so many issues in this part of OMR like the presence of barricades, poor road quality, absence of street lights etc. Inspite of these, residents pay huge amount as toll fee. It must be recalled that on OMR 4 to 5 toll plazas have been closed already.
The minister for Highways Mr. EV. Velu earlier mentioned that as per the rules of NHAI there must not be any toll plaza within 10km of municipalities and corporations etc.
Truth is that toll plazas are still present in places like Chennasamudram, Nemilii, Vanagaram, Surapattu and Paranur in violation of the above said norm. The petition pointed out that TNRDCs Navalur toll plaza was mere 1km from GCC limits.
