The introduction of tolls on new roads that facilitate travel is a nationwide arrangement. There will be a lot of people who protest against this. Toll collection is also an approved policy of the government at a time when the development of National Highways is in full swing. In the states, tolls are levied on new bridges that cost more than a certain amount. Although tolls are usually collected until the cost of the highway is recovered, it often goes on and on for years. This is also due to the fact that a large portion of the toll collected is pocketed by the companies that contract the toll collection. This situation has changed drastically with the recent introduction of the FASTag system for toll collection on the National Highways. The money received through tolls goes entirely to the treasury. This is because of the fact that you can take a FASTag coupon in advance.

With the Highway Authority taking action to collect toll on the Kazhakoottam-Karot bypass in Thiruvananthapuram, political parties started to organized a massive protest against it. This led to tension in Thiruvallam and Kovalam areas in recent days. The protesters decided to hold a protest by blocking the highway when the construction of the toll plaza was about to begin. With the opposition party, as well as the ruling party, joining the protest, the embargo gained strength. The National Highways Authority (NHA) officials decided not to collect the toll for the time being as they could not hold back the protest. It is not unreasonable to demand that those living near the toll plaza be exempted from the toll. Similarly, there is nothing wrong with the argument that toll collection should be done only after the completion of the remaining sections of the bypass. At the same time, how can it be accepted that there should not be any toll collection and that traffic should be blocked by organising people against toll collection? People who have travelled outside Kerala know very well that tolls are levied on every 60 km of highways. No one will say that toll collection is a burden during travel on new routes that make for a comfortable ride and significantly reduce travel time.
Everyone is aware of how difficult it is to drive on the National Highway from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram Parassala. Malayalees have been waiting for decades to see the dream project of road development come to fruition. When the new road comes, the toll will also come. There is no point in protesting against it.

Meanwhile, steps have been taken to acquire land for the new high-speed rail line from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. A total of 955 hectares of land will be required for the railway line. The government had published the survey numbers of the land to be acquired yesterday. Opposition parties, who have already opposed the new railway line, are expected to intensify the protest against the project. There will be some front here to oppose any new development project in the state. Paradoxically, those who want to have all the good facilities in the world here are the ones who are coming forward to undermine development projects. These political parties should not try to achieve political gain by hindering the development of the state.