Chennai: The removal of toll plazas has come as a huge relief to thousands of commuters residing around and travelling on Rajiv Gandhi Salai, popularly known as OMR.
User fee collection has been suspended at four out of the five toll plazas along OMR in Chennai from Monday.
Toll booths at Perungudi, Thoraipakkam, Kalaignar Salai and Medavakkam have stopped collecting toll to facilitate construction workby Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL). Motorists however continue to pay toll at Navalur near Siruseri.
Although the residents had a monthly pass, the time spent at the booths was causing frustration among them. Cab drivers had to pay the toll rates during their trips over the course of the day, depleting their income.
Although there were protests for closure of the toll gates from day one, the demand gained momentum after Chennai Corporation city limits were expanded in 2011. Since then, National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), IT companies, and various residential associations have urged the government to remove the toll plazas as they fall under city limits.