The Action Committee, which has been leading protests against the toll, had earlier declared that it would block the toll plaza if collection commenced
Kumbla: In a last-minute decision, authorities have temporarily suspended the move to begin toll collection at Arikady, Kumbla, on National Highway 66. The decision comes amid ongoing protests and a pending case in the Kerala High Court, which is scheduled to be heard on 14 November.
Kasaragod District Collector K. Inbasekar confirmed that no toll will be collected until the court hearing. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had earlier announced that toll collection would begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, with rates already finalised and an official notice published in Tuesday’s newspapers.
However, following widespread opposition, MLA A.K.M. Ashraf met the District Collector and District Police Chief on Tuesday evening. “I explained the situation, and was later informed over the phone that the toll collection had been postponed,” the MLA said.
The Action Committee, which has been leading protests against the toll, had earlier declared that it would block the toll plaza if collection commenced. The toll, if implemented, would apply to the 36.79-kilometre completed stretch of NH-66 from Chengala to Talapady.
According to a gazette notification issued by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, toll rates were to come into effect from 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
Toll Rates
| Vehicle Type | One-Way Trip (₹) | Return Trip (within 24 hours) (₹) | Monthly Pass (50 Trips) (₹) | District-Registered Commercial Vehicle (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car, Jeep, Van, LMV | 85 | 130 | 2,890 | 45 |
| LCV, LGV, Minibus | 140 | 210 | 4,670 | 70 |
| Bus, Truck (up to two axles) | 295 | 440 | 9,790 | 145 |
| Commercial Vehicle (three axles) | 320 | 480 | 10,680 | 160 |
| Heavy Construction Machinery, Earth-Moving Equipment, Multi-Axle Vehicle (four–six axles) | 460 | 690 | 15,350 | 230 |
| Vehicles with Seven or More Axles | 560 | 840 | 18,685 | 280 |
Owners of non-commercial vehicles residing within a 20-kilometre radius of the toll plaza are eligible for a monthly pass costing ₹340. An annual pass priced at ₹3,000 is also available through the Rajmarg Yatra app. The pass functions like a FASTag and can be used for all mechanised vehicles, except commercial ones. Its validity is capped at 200 trips or one year, whichever comes first.
Following the toll announcement, members of the Action Committee convened in Kumbla on Tuesday afternoon and resolved to intensify their protest action.
The Committee contends that constructing another toll plaza at Arikkady, just 22 kilometres away from the existing toll gate at Talapady, near the Karnataka border violates the law. Their petition before the High Court cites the National Highways Authority Act of 1964, which mandates a minimum distance of 60 kilometres between two toll plazas.
A third toll plaza is also under construction at Periya Chalingal on the same stretch of the national highway, further fuelling public opposition to the project.
Published: 12 Nov 2025, 01:15 pm IST
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