The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has allegedly invited bids for toll collection at Aganampudi for 2024-25, despite the toll plaza’s removal on June 26, 2024, following heavy opposition from commuters. This action has sparked fresh controversy among motorists and residents of the Gajuwaka Assembly segment. The newly elected NDA coalition government, which includes TDP, JSP, and BJP, had been lauded for fulfilling the long-standing demand to remove the toll gate situated in a residential area.
Balireddy Satyanarayana, chairman of the Aganampudi Development Committee and an advocate against the toll gate, pointed out that NHAI’s latest notification, dated July 10, 2024, aims to collect ₹81.10 crore annually. He highlighted that NHAI previously gathered around ₹350 crore unofficially and is now attempting to impose additional financial burdens on the community. Satyanarayana warned that reopening the toll gate would provoke severe public backlash.
Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao noted that their legal battle to remove the toll gate began in 2017 and achieved success by the end of his party’s tenure in May 2019. However, the subsequent YSRCP government neglected the issue, allowing highway authorities to secure stay orders from the Supreme Court and resume toll collection. Rao criticized the latest bid notification, which erroneously referenced NH-05 instead of NH-16, rendering it legally questionable. He emphasized the presence of numerous liquor shops along the outdated NH-05 route, violating National Highway Rules.
Local cab driver K. Kiran expressed disappointment over NHAI’s plans to reopen the toll plaza, voicing concern from thousands of families. Meanwhile, Project Director of NHAI Visakhapatnam, Prabhat Ranjan, denied issuing any new notification for toll collection at Aganampudi.
Originally established in 1997, the Aganampudi toll gate saw daily traffic of 2,000 to 2,500 vehicles, with an average daily collection of ₹20 lakh to ₹25 lakh. The Gajuwaka Bar Association’s legal challenge in 2017 led to the Supreme Court allowing toll collection until the completion of NH-16.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/fresh-bids-to-reopen-aganampudi-toll-plaza-have-commuters-worried/article68481065.ece
Category : Visakhapatnam
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