Kerala High Court refuses to lift suspension of toll collection at Paliyekkara

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday refused to lift its earlier interim order suspending toll collection at the Paliyekkara toll plaza along NH-544 until the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) complies with directions for road repairs [Shaji J Kodankadath v. Union of India and connected cases]..A Division Bench of Justices A Muhamed Mustaque and Harisankar V Menon had previously ordered the constitution of an Interim Traffic Management Committee comprising the District Collector, District Police Superintendent,and the Regional Transport Officer to monitor traffic conditions in the area.Thrissur District Collector Arjun Pandian appeared before the Bench today and submitted that several issues persist and that instructions have been given to the NHAI to address the same.Appearing for the NHAI, Assistant Solicitor General of India (ASG) ARL Sundaresan, assured the Court that the directions will be complied with at the earliest but said that the issue cannot be postponed indefinitely.The Bench said that postponing the matter is not its intention but pointed out that the NHAI had time since February, when the issues with the affected stretch of NH 544 were first raised before it. "We also don't want to postpone. We understand the dilemma faced by everyone... but you had enough time from February when District Collector started proceedings", Justice Mustaque orally observed. The Bench directed the NHAI to report to the NHAI once the directions issued by the Collector and the Committee have been complied with. It also directed the Collector to verify whether NHAI has complied and report back to the Court by Monday, September 15. .The Court passed these directions while considering petitions challenging toll collection at Paliyekkara due to the poor conditions of NH 544 and the resulting traffic congestion. One traffic block was reported to have lasted over 12 hours. .Following the High Court's previous order suspending tol collection, the NHAI moved the Supreme Court in appeal but the top court dismissed the appeal. It also asked the Kerala High Court to continue monitoring the situation closely..Can't force citizens to pay toll in addition to vehicle tax for pothole-ridden roads: Supreme Court.On August 21, the Division Bench ordered the constitution of an Interim Traffic Management Committee to monitor traffic conditions in the area. The committee consisting of the District Collector, Superintendent of Police and Regional Transport Officer was tasked with inspecting congested areas and submitting recommendations.The bench also suggested that restrictions on heavy vehicles during peak hours could be considered as a possible solution to traffic woes.The committee met on August 23 and submitted a report based on inspections conducted at multiple locations on the highway. The report’s findings and recommendations were reviewed in the August 26 hearing and the Court extended the suspension of toll collection to September 9..The Court today directed the District Collector to verify whether the NHAI addresses the issues pointed out by the Committee and submit a report by September 15 when the matter will be taken up next..[Read live coverage]