Kochi: In a strong rebuke to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Kerala High Court has once again extended the ban on toll collection at the Paliyekkara toll plaza, citing ongoing safety and traffic issues along the Edappally–Mannuthy National Highway. The case will be reconsidered on Friday.
A Division Bench of Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Harishankar V. Menon made the decision after reviewing a District Collector’s report that revealed severe congestion and safety lapses in the still-under-construction stretches of the highway. The court also sought clarification from the Central Government regarding its plan of action on the construction delays and the recent toll hike.
While NHAI claimed that only five kilometers of the 65-kilometer stretch remain incomplete, the court questioned why such a small section could not be finished quickly. The Centre promised that construction would be completed in three stages — January, March, and June — but argued there was no justification for continuing the toll ban.
The Bench, however, hit back, asking whether NHAI was “concerned only about contractors” while neglecting the hardships faced by commuters, stressing that public safety must come first.
An Interim Traffic Management Committee report led by the District Collector pointed to major safety lapses — including missing warning signs, inadequate safety barriers, and chaotic lane diversions that force four-lane traffic into single lanes, creating massive bottlenecks.
The High Court had originally suspended toll collection on August 6, holding NHAI responsible for poor traffic management. The action followed a public interest petition filed by civic activists highlighting the daily struggles and risks faced by motorists on the incomplete highway.
