The Supreme Court has upheld the Kerala High Court’s order suspending toll collection for four weeks at the Paliyekkara toll plaza on NH-544, citing the highway’s poor condition and crippling traffic jams. Appeals by the NHAI and toll operator Guruvayoor Infrastructure Ltd. were dismissed.
A bench led by CJI B.R. Gavai slammed the inefficiency in road maintenance, observing that travelers were forced to spend up to 12 hours on a stretch meant to take just one hour. The court remarked: “Citizens should be free to move on roads they have already paid taxes for, not pay extra to navigate potholes and gutters—symbols of inefficiency.”
The SC further directed the Kerala HC to involve contractor PST Engineering and Constructions in monitoring repairs to speed up traffic restoration. Tolling can resume earlier if road conditions improve, while any claims for losses by the concessionaire must go through administrative remedies or possible extension of concession terms.
