MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government has been taking efforts to shut down the toll plazas in Chennai and across the state and the respective minister is all set to meet the Union Minister to convey the state government's decision to close a major number of toll plazas. On why the government wants to close the toll plazas, it has said that the decision was taken as most of them defy the provision enacted in the National Highways Rules. 

According to reports, Tamil Nadu Minister of Highways, EV Velu will be meeting Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, to appraise the decision of the Tamil Nadu government to close five toll plazas within a 10 km radius in the vicinity of Chennai. Velu's office has on Friday issued a statement in which it has said that the government would close 32 of the 48 toll plazas in the state. 

The minister has noted that Tamil Nadu should have only 16 toll plazas as per the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008. According to the rule, there should be a minimum distance of 60 km between the toll plazas and the statement has said that there are 48 toll plazas in Tamil Nadu currently of which many of them defy this provision. As per the statement, the five toll plazas that will be immediately closed are Vanagaram, Nemili near Sriperumbudur, Paranur near Chengalpet, Chennasamudram, and Surapattu. 

As a first step, the Tamil Nadu government will close these five toll plazas and Velu's office has asserted that the decision of closing these plazas has already been communicated to the Union Ministry. Speaking to IANS, Velu said, "I will meet Nitin Gadkariji personally and apprise him about the unscientific manner in which toll plazas are located in Tamil Nadu. This is creating a lot of trouble for the people. I will communicate the matter to the minister and take the necessary steps after the meeting."