Kerala Floods: NHAI Suspends Toll Fee at Three Toll Plazas in State
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has waived off toll at three booths across Kerala in view of floods that have ravaged the state.
Thiruvananthapuram, August 21: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has waived off toll at three booths across Kerala in view of floods that have ravaged the state. The user fee has been waived off on the toll plazas at Paliekkara in Thrissur district, Pampampallam in Palakkad district and Kumbalam in Kochi, said a statement by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways today.
The statement said that the toll waiver had come into effect last week and will remain in place till August 26. "Many highways in the state are flooded, including the stretches of NH-544 close to Aluva due to the unprecedented rains/opening of dams in several districts in the state," the statement said.
Kerala has been devastated by rains, floods and landslides over the past one week. Over 370 people have died while more than 2 lakh people were displaced due to floods.
Water began receding in most areas on Monday and many people started returning to their homes from relief camps.
On Monday, Centre declared the massive floods in Kerala as a 'calamity of severe nature'. The declaration comes days after the Opposition attacked the government for refraining to declare the floods in Kerala as a 'national disaster'. With the 'severe calamity' declaration issued, additional aid for the flood-ravaged state will be sanctioned.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2018 04:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).