Will allow resumption of toll at Paliyekkara with conditions: Kerala HC
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Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday said that it would lift starting Monday the stay it had imposed on the collection of toll at the Paliyekkara toll plaza along National Highway-544.
Toll collection here has been suspended since August 6 following a huge traffic block from poor road conditions due to overbridge constructions at various places along NH 544, according to Bar and Bench
A Division Bench of Justices A Muhamed Mustaque and Harisankar V Menon announced the resumption of toll collection on September 22, albeit with certain conditions.
‘Let the suspension be revoked. We will not close the matter; let day-to-day periodic checks be done on the road. We will lift the suspension from Monday because we want to add some conditions. Monday we will pass orders,’ Justice Mustaque stated orally.
The decision came after a report by the Interim Traffic Management Committee regarding the work carried out by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ease traffic issues.
The NHAI approached the Supreme Court after the High Court’s order on August 2 directing to suspend toll collection; however apex court, dismissing the same, directed Kerala High Court to continue monitoring the situation.
Subsequently, the Division Bench on August 21 directed to constitute an Interim Traffic Management Committee, consisting of the District Collector, Superintendent of Police and Regional Transport Officer, to monitor traffic conditions in the area.
The committee was asked to inspect congested areas and submit recommendations.
On September 16, the committee chaired by Thrissur District Collector Arjun Pandian submitted its report.
After examining points ‘flagged’ by the court alongside looking to issues raised by the petitioner, the committee stated that the works had been satisfactorily completed.