The Kerala High Court has indicated that toll collection may soon be resumed at Paliyekkara Toll Plaza on NH-544 in Thrissur district. The toll was suspended earlier by an order dated August 6, following a 12-hour blockade due to construction work sanctioned by the National Highways Authority of India. The Supreme Court affirmed that suspension on August 18.
During recent proceedings, the bench comprising Justices A Muhamed Mustaque and Harisankar V Menon was informed that the Interim Traffic Management Committee, set up to deal with congestion on the affected highway stretch, has expressed satisfaction with the works carried out by the National Highways Authority. Additional Solicitor General A.R.L. Sundaresan, representing the Authority, requested that toll collection be permitted to restart from Monday, noting that the toll revenue is necessary to maintain operations, support about 300 employees, and to maintain the roads periodically.
The Court responded that it would allow reopening of toll collection starting Monday, but with certain conditions. Among the directions given, the District Collector has been asked to ensure NHAI addresses issues such as uneven road surfaces and completing culvert works in affected stretches. NHAI has submitted a compliance report, upon which the Interim Traffic Management Committee has expressed satisfaction.
The case—titled Shaji J Kodankadath v Union of India and connected cases—is scheduled to be heard further on Monday when the Court will pass orders, possibly formally restoring toll-collection subject to the compliance and conditions.
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