Kochi: The Kerala High Court has once again extended the ban on toll collection at the Paliyekkara plaza along the busy Mannuthy–Edappally National Highway, offering relief to commuters grappling with severe traffic snarls.
The extension came during the hearing of a petition by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which argued that toll operations should be resumed since repairs to the service road were complete. However, the court noted that congestion continues to plague the stretch, particularly at four major “black spots.”
The court questioned why the central government has remained silent on the matter despite earlier directions to intervene. Seeking accountability, it has asked the Centre to submit a response and directed the District Collector to present a detailed report on the current situation. The Collector has also been instructed to appear online during tomorrow’s hearing.
Adding weight to the decision, the High Court reviewed a police report highlighting frequent accidents in areas where underpass construction is underway. The bench observed that such findings cannot be ignored and stressed the urgency of addressing the safety hazards.
With the case scheduled for further hearing tomorrow, the toll collection remains suspended, keeping thousands of daily commuters free from additional burden—at least for now.
