NHAI forced to stop toll collection at Kumbalam

KOCHI: Amidst strong protests from the local people and other organisations, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had to stop the toll collection at the Kumbalam Toll Plaza on NH-47, on Saturday.Following protests, the authorities have decided to convene a meeting of ministers, MLAs and the representatives of various organisations on Sunday to discuss the issue. Activists of various political parties and  organisations, under the aegis of the National Highway Protection Council, took out marches to the Toll Plaza at Kumbalam on Saturday morning. Some of them picketed the toll booth.The agitators and the local people tore away the flex board put up by the NHAI displaying the toll rates. The agitators prevented the motorists from paying the toll. As the protests grew, the officials closed  the toll counters for the day.Environmentalist C R Neelakantan inaugurated the march taken out by 20 organisations under the banner of the National Highway Protection Council.Hashim Chendampilly, Solidarity Youth Movement leader Ummer, Khalid Mundappilly and K Aravindakshan spoke on the occasion.