Why pay toll for 12-hr traffic? SC slams NHAI over Kerala highway gridlock
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on why commuters should pay tolls when it takes up to 12 hours to travel the entire stretch of National Highway 544 in Kerala during weekends. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria also raised whether NHAI should compensate travelers for the fuel and time lost while stuck in the massive traffic jams.
The bench was hearing petitions, including a special leave petition filed by the NHAI, challenging a Kerala High Court decision that had temporarily suspended toll collection at the Paliyekkara Toll Plaza on the Edappally-Mannuthy National Highway near Kochi, citing authorities’ failure to resolve severe congestion.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing NHAI, told the court that the jam had been caused by an overturned lorry. Justice Chandran, who frequently travels the stretch, responded, “The lorry did not fall on its own. It fell into a pothole and got overturned. In fact, some payment has to be made by NHAI to commuters for their patience and the fuel they lost in the traffic block. The road is in such a state of disrepair.”
CJI Gavai also questioned, “Why should a person pay Rs. 150 toll if it takes 12 hours to get from one end of the road to the other?” Mehta replied that service roads were available for commuters as underpass construction was underway, but monsoon rains had delayed progress.
After hearing submissions from both sides, including Mr. Jayanth Muth Raj, senior counsel for the respondents, the court reserved judgment.
Earlier, the Kerala High Court had noted that toll collection could only be justified after resolving traffic issues and had observed that service roads created by NHAI were also in poor condition, exacerbating the congestion. The bench had asked, “If the roads are in poor condition, how can toll collection be justified?”
The case highlights ongoing commuter frustration over prolonged traffic snarls on NH 544 and questions the accountability of NHAI in ensuring safe and efficient highway travel.
With IANS inputs