GCDA ends Mattancherry toll

Kochi: The Greater Cochin Development Authority declared that toll collection for the Mattancherry Bridge, the first built-operate-transfer project, came to an end amidst a festive spirit in the presence of a large number of people on Sunday.

GCDA chairman N Venugopal, Kochi corporation mayor Tony Chammany, Dominic Presentation MLA and several other leaders assembled at the Bridge and announced the end of the toll collection at 5 pm following the expiry of the 13-year period as per the agreement between the GCDA and Gammon India ended.

Although the ending of the toll collection was announced in a festive spirit, the Cochin Bridge Infrastructure Company, entitled with entire rights and obligation of Gammon India in the venture, had made it clear that GCDA had no authority to do so.

According to a statement by the CBICL, the concessionaire for the Mattancherry Bridge, “is entitled to continue to collect the toll/user fees as per the terms of the concession agreement as modified by the Government of Kerala by its order dated 24.01.2005”.

Prakash P. George, counsel for the company, said that the matter was under the consideration of three judicial authorities and the final decision would be subjected to these judicial verdicts. 

The arbitration proceedings before a three-member panel comprising Justice SP Bharucha, Justice KT Thomas and Justice Krishnamurthy was still continuing, he said, and pointed out that the panel in its interim order passed in March 2011 had permitted the company to collect the toll/user fee till the final orders.

Cases were also pending in the district court in Ernakulam and Kerala High Court on the matter, Adv Prakash said. GCDA chairman N Venugopal however said that the agreement between GCDA and the concessionaire had expired and arbitration was a matter between the state government and the concessionaire.

Dominic Presentation MLA also said that the toll collection could not be allowed to continue in the name of arbitration and other judicial proceedings.