Get ready to pay toll on Padil-BC Road stretch

November 8, 2013

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Stanley Pinto, TNN |

MANGALORE: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will introduce a toll on the 20-km stretch between Padil and BC Road by the year end.

Though the 37-km Surathkal-BC Road stretch was constructed by the same agency- Ircon International Limited (IRCON) – two different agencies will be appointed to collect the toll and do the maintenance of the road.

The toll booths have already been erected near Brahmarakootlu for this purpose.

NHAI project director Shriram Mishra said that the toll will be introduced on the Padil-BC Road in November. “The process for issuing tenders for toll collection is already under way in Delhi,” he added.

He also indicated that the maintenance will be done by a different agency.

However, the Padil -BC Road four-lane stretch does not offer super smooth drive.

There are several bottlenecks at many places including Farangipet, Thumbe and Brahmarakootlu. This will not allow the user to drive at a speed of 80 kmph throughout.

Near Thumbe, the road has developed a big crater which is in a blind corner. This has caused several accidents.

Mishra said near Farangipet NHAI cannot provide shoulders as a fish market is located there and it cannot be shifted as the land belongs to the railways.

Regarding the blind turn near Thumbe, Mishra said the road will be repaired soon. “But the curve improvement is not possible due to non-availability of land. We took almost eight years to complete the land acquisition process for this project. It’s very easy for NHAI to straighten a road, but what can be done if there is no land available. Moreover, when if we try to straighten a curve, objections come as to why the opposite side of the land is not being acquired,” he said pointing out at the intricacies.

On the Surathkal toll booth, he said shifting the toll booth to Hejamady is under consideration. It may be recalled that the toll booth near Panambur had invited protests from the local resident.

Source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com