Traffic snarls on NH 544: Kerala HC declines to vacate stay on toll collection at Paliyekkara

Kochi: Kerala high court on Wednesday declined to vacate the interim order suspending toll collection at the Paliyekkara toll plaza in view of severe traffic congestion along the Edappally-Mannuthy stretch of NH 544. A division bench of Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Harisankar V Menon clarified that once the directions issued by the Thrissur district collector to ease congestion are complied with, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) must report compliance to the collector. The collector is to verify the implementation and file a report before the court by Sept 15. The bench further observed that once the issues along the stretch are resolved, the suspension of toll collection will be lifted immediately. The petitions filed by Thrissur natives Shaji K Kodankandath, Joseph Tajet, and others challenging toll collection in light of the congestion were adjourned to Sept 15, with the interim order suspending toll collection extended until then. During the hearing, Thrissur district collector Arjun Pandian appeared online, as directed earlier, and informed court that directions had already been issued to the NHAI on matters including uneven road surfaces and culvert works. He noted that at some points, vehicles were forced to traverse culverts due to narrow service roads, worsening congestion. In light of these submissions, the court refused the NHAI's request to vacate the interim order.