Paying Toll for Bad Roads?: SC Slams National Highways' Appeal Over Paliyekkara Toll Suspension
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, August 19, rejected an appeal plea filed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) challenging a Kerala High Court’s August 6th order that suspended toll collection at the Paliyekkara toll booth in Kerala’s Thrissur.
The top court upheld the high court’s four-week toll collection suspension order, noting that the highway had been badly maintained and hence motorists could not be charged due to the poor condition of the Edappally–Mannuthy stretch of National Highway 544. Besides, the long-term traffic snarls accompanied by toll collection difficulties are also a regular occurrence at Paliyekkara toll booths.
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While hearing the case, a bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran came down heavily on the NHAI over the poor plight of the road, which allegedly caused traffic jams lasting nearly 12 hours. The bench asked the national highway authority that why should a peon pay Rs 150 if it takes 12 hours for him to get from one end of the road to the other end.
“A road which is expected to take one hour, takes 11 more hours, and they have to pay a toll as well”, the chief justice observed. He further highlighted that the gutters, potholes, and recurring traffic snarls on national highways are symbols of inefficiency.
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The court also referred to the media reports regarding traffic snarls on the stretch while delivering the verdict.
The Kerala High Court had on August 6 suspended toll collection for four weeks, stating that toll charges cannot be collected given the poor maintenance and prolonged congestion caused by delayed works on the road. It was underlined that the NHAI is responsible for ensuring smooth and safe travel, though citizens are obliged to pay toll fees.
