HC extends suspension of toll at Paliyekkara toll plaza

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday extended the interim suspension of toll collection at the National Highways Authority of India’s Paliyekkara toll plaza and directed the NHAI to report to the Thrissur Collector on steps being taken to decongest the Edapally-Thrissur NH 544 corridor.

The Collector (who appeared online before the court) ought to verify whether the directives he issued to the NHAI to decongest the stretch were being complied with and report to the court, said a Bench of Justice A. Muhammed Mustaque and Justice Harisankar V. Menon. The case was posted for hearing on September 15.

The court had on Tuesday directed the Collector to appear online to provide updates on the issue. In early August, the court had ordered interim suspension of toll collection at the Paliyekkara toll plaza, in the wake of massive traffic hold-ups in the NH corridor due to inadequate and shoddily-maintained diversion/service roads near underpass and flyover work sites.

This suspension of toll collection was subsequently extended till September 9, while hearing a petition filed by Thrissur native Shaji J. Kodankandath, seeking steps to ensure safe and streamlined flow of vehicles in the toll corridor.

The police had informed the court on Tuesday that there were still bottlenecks on some service roads near underpass and flyover work sites in the corridor. This was also leading to accidents near worksites.