Protest march held to Suresh Gopi’s office over toll collection in Keralam’s Nattika

Janakeeya Samara Samiti activists take out a march to the office of Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi on Tuesday, demanding an immediate halt to toll collection at Nattika and toll exemption for local residents. | Photo Credit: K.K. NAJEEB

A protest march was taken out to the office of Union Minister and Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi on Tuesday, demanding an immediate halt to toll collection at Nattika until the National Highway 66 construction works are completed.

Organised by the Janakeeya Samara Samiti, the march also demanded toll exemption for vehicles belonging to local residents and the early completion of bridges and service roads.

Questions silence

The protesters accused the State and Union governments of remaining silent on the issue and alleged that their approach was helping the toll operator. They also criticised Mr. Gopi for not responding to the concerns raised by residents and urged him to intervene immediately to resolve the issue.

The march began at Chembukkavu and saw the participation of several people, including prominent figures from political and cultural fields. The police stopped the procession with barricades near Mr. Gopi’s office at Paringavu.

K.K. Valsaraj, MLA, inaugurated the protest. Communist Party of India (CPI) district executive committee member K.P. Sandeep presided. Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] district secretary K.V. Abdul Khader, N.K. Akbar, MLA, and many other leaders spoke.

The march was part of the ongoing agitation led by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) against toll collection at Nattika, which began on October 7. The protesters maintain that toll collection is unauthorised as the highway works remain incomplete.

The agitation has included a blockade of the toll plaza, a human chain, a net march, a march to the Collectorate and round-the-clock protests, gradually turning the issue into a mass campaign.

Published - November 10, 2026 08:05 pm IST