Kerala drivers brace for near‑₹3,000 toll on NH 66 as new plazas come online
One‑way fares from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram could reach roughly ₹3,000 once all toll stations on the coastal highway are operational, according to The Hindu.
The Hindu reported that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is preparing to raise tolls on Kerala’s NH 66 to levels that could cost a driver about ₹3,000 for a single trip between Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram. The figure reflects the cumulative charge across all toll plazas slated to become functional by the end of the year.
NH 66, also known as the Srinagar‑Kanyakumari Highway, stretches over 1,600 kilometres along India’s western coast. In Kerala, the stretch spans roughly 650 kilometres and serves as a vital link for commuters, tourists, and freight operators. Currently, only a handful of toll booths are collecting fees, with charges ranging between ₹30 and ₹150 per plaza. The NHAI plans to commission additional plazas at strategic points, effectively turning the entire route into a toll‑based corridor.
According to the agency, the new toll structure is intended to fund extensive upgrades, including lane widening, bridge reinforcement, and the installation of intelligent traffic management systems. By spreading the cost across multiple plazas, officials argue that the highway’s long‑term maintenance and safety standards will improve without relying on state budgets.
Motorists and transport unions have voiced concern that the steep increase could deter regular travel and raise logistics costs for goods moving between Kerala’s northern and southern districts. For daily commuters, the added expense may push some to seek alternative routes such as the inland SH 12 or to shift to public transport, potentially easing congestion on the coastal road.
The move mirrors a broader trend across India, where the central government has been expanding toll networks to offset the high capital outlay of highway projects. Similar price hikes have been observed on the Delhi‑Mumbai Expressway and the Bengaluru‑Chennai corridor, where tolls are calibrated to recover construction costs over a 20‑year concession period. Understanding this context helps explain why the NHAI is willing to impose higher fees despite public pushback.
The final toll rates will be announced after the remaining plazas are commissioned and a public consultation is completed. Until then, drivers are advised to budget for the anticipated increase and consider alternative travel plans, especially for long‑distance journeys across the state.
This report is based on original reporting by The Hindu. Read the original source →