Taking its toll on the plaza

KUMBALAM: The incident at the Kumbalam Toll Plaza in which a turbine-laden lorry of the KSEB got stuck at the toll gate is proof of the unscientific manner in which the structure was designed.A widespread protest against the ongoing toll collection and unscientific designing of the plaza is still on. A portion of the toll plaza was dismantled on Sunday morning so that the lorry  which got stuck in the lane could wriggle out.On Saturday the lorry of the KSEB got stuck at the toll gate.Though the KSEB tried to break open the toll booth to get the lorry out the National Highway authorities would not hear of it unless a compensation of Rs 52,000 was paid for reconstruction. For an entire day and night, the traffic through the IV lane was blocked. Toll could be collected only at the other booths.Meanwhile, on Sunday morning as per the discussions held between officials of KSEB and National Highways Authority, the particular toll booth was dismantled after the said amount was paid. By 11.30AM the lorry moved on.This incident has brought to light the faults at the plaza that have already been highlighted. Though the truck laden with the huge turbine could easily pass through all other toll plazas from Pune to Kerala, it got stuck only at Kumbalam where the entry is narrow.Though the organisations fighting against the unscientific Kumbalam Toll plaza are repeatedly complaining about its faults as well as the service roads and under passages, the National Highway authorities turn a blind eye towards them. Without rectifying the faults they began to collect huge amounts at the plaza.Interestingly, in the wake of Sunday’s development Minister for Electricity Aryadan Mohammed complained about the unscientific designing of the plaza.   Moreover, a few more lorries laden with huge turbines for KSEB, have to cross the plaza.“In such a situation, it is better for the National Highway authorities to keep a portion of the toll plaza in  this dismantled state so that trucks laden with heavy equipment for KSEB, Cochin Refineries, Cochin Shipyard and other major industrial sectors can pass through, said the local people.