KOCHI: The government on Friday informed the High Court that the company which undertook the construction of the Mannuthy-Angamaly stretch of NH 47 was entitled to collect toll. The state also said that the Guruvayur Infrastructure Private Ltd, which undertook the construction of the four-lane stretch, has completed the construction of footpaths along the seven bridges on the highway. In an affidavit, P R Sreekumar, Joint Secretary, PWD, said that, in the wake of protests over the toll collection, the govt convened a meeting of the people’s representatives, government officials and representatives of the company. The affidavit was filed in response to a writ petition filed by the company seeking police protection. The company had agreed to construct the newly proposed service road of 27.6 km in six months and the works would be executed immediately. If the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) does not provide funds for the construction of the service roads, the state government will bear the cost. The project director of the NHAI will take urgent steps to prepare the estimate and plans for flyovers/underpasses. One-metre wide footpaths on the seven bridges on the Thrissur-Angamaly stretch were completed. The company sought permission of the state government to resume toll collection at Paliyakkara toll plaza. The government submitted that the police had already provided protection and toll was being collected since February 9, 2012.
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