Kochi Corporation agrees to pay toll

KOCHI: Even as public protest is mounting over resuming toll collection at Ponnurunni railway overbridge, the city corporation has agreed to pay the toll amount to the Roads and Bridges Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK) until the Metro Rail construction works are completed.

Responding to a query on the dispute between the civic body and the RBDCK, Mayor Tony Chammany said that the civic body was willing to pay a fixed amount to the agency as toll.

“The civic body is trying to avoid toll collection at any cost. Last year, the total toll collection was Rs 15 lakh and this year the RBDCK collected Rs 7 lakh. The corporation will give a proportionate fixed amount from its annual plan funds to the RBDCK,” said Mr. Chammany.

However, he  added that the civic body was not against collecting toll at the bridge as the RBDCK had availed of bank loans for its construction.

Ponnurunni RoB is one of the major alternative routes depended upon by thousands of commuters as Metro Rail works are progressing on major sections like SA Road.

Meanwhile, the high-level meeting to resolve the dispute will be held on Wednesday. PWD Minister V. K. Ebrahim Kunju and  Mr Benny Behanan MLA will attend the meeting.