Paliyekkara: Although toll collection at Paliyekkara has been halted, deductions through the FASTag system have not stopped. On Monday at 8:10 PM, toll collection was officially stopped and the toll booths were opened in the presence of revenue and police officials. However, FASTags on vehicles are still being read and amounts are still being deducted from accounts.

The amount from the FASTag is being transferred to the account of the National Highways Authority through the technical infrastructure at the toll plaza. This process is under the control of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Vehicles passing slowly through the open toll booths are resulting in revenue loss, but revenue and police officials have no authority to intervene in this matter. Some vehicle owners have bypassed the system by covering the FASTag stickers with paper.

As a result, the suspension of toll collection at the Paliyekkara toll plaza is only technical in nature. Toll deductions via the technical system at the plaza can only be stopped based on directions from NPCI. For this, the Collector must issue a formal instruction to NPCI. Revenue authorities have already sent a letter to the District Collector regarding this.

The toll collection was stopped in the presence of Special Village Officer K.E. Haseena, Field Assistant P.G. Rajan, Chalakudy DYSP K. Sumesh, and Puthukkad Police SHO V. Sajeesh Kumar.