The High Court of Kerala has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to provide the time period stipulated in its agreement with the contractor regarding completion of the work on a stretch of NH 544, following reports of significant delays in construction. The direction came from a division bench comprising Justices A. Muhamed Mustaque and Harisankar V. Menon, which was hearing a writ petition filed over persistent traffic congestion along the highway stretch.
The backdrop to the Court’s order lies in severe traffic disruptions on the Mannuthy–Edappally stretch of NH‑544, particularly near the Paliyekkara Toll Plaza, where toll collection had previously been suspended due to ongoing construction work and associated congestion. The suspension had been initially imposed after commuters reported significant delays — at times up to twelve hours — owing to the incomplete works. The Court had earlier constituted an Interim Traffic Management Committee to suggest traffic mitigation measures and directed NHAI to address numerous road‑safety and traffic‑management issues.
During the most recent hearing, the District Collector — appearing online — informed the Court that despite the passage of over a year since the work had commenced (started in September 2024), the construction remained in its early stages. He also pointed out that there was insufficient lighting and a lack of hazard signs along the stretch, contributing to ongoing safety risks. The Interim Committee’s report, placed on record, further highlighted absence of traffic guards at a key junction (Koratty), poor management of diversions, and inadequate safety measures.
Given these circumstances, the Court directed NHAI to submit the contractual time frame — that is, the deadline by which the contractor was bound to complete the highway works — by the next date of hearing. In addition, the Court ordered that NHAI must ensure full compliance with the safety and traffic management recommendations made by the Interim Committee, and that a status report on implementation be submitted.
The matter has been adjourned for further consideration on the next date, with the Court awaiting NHAI’s submission of the contractual completion schedule as well as evidence of remedial steps taken to address the hazards and delays along the stretch.
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