Buckling down the pressure from villagers, especially farmers, The National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) has on Wednesday exempted the local residents living within a radius of 20 kilometres from paying toll at the newly opened Kaniyur toll plaza.

The toll plaza became operational last night. Tension prevailed near the toll plaza this morning, as activists of various political parties, farmers associations, and local residents gathered at the toll plaza to protest.

The NHAI has decided to exempt people from nearby 60 villages located within a 20 kilometre radius of the toll plaza. More than 2.5 lakh people reside in the villages in the 20 kilometre radius, and pass through the toll gate everyday. Nearly 30,000 vehicles pass through the Kaniyur toll gate everyday. Four wheelers like cars and jeeps pay Rs.80 for a single journey and Rs.120 for a two-way journey. Buses will be charged Rs.385, lorries Rs.600, and heavy trucks will have to pay a toll fee of Rs.900.

This is the first time that exemptions are being given at toll plazas in India. Hyderabad-based IVRCL will bear the cost of issuing passes to the local residents.