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New Delhi: Amid outrage from public and daily commuters over the traffic congestion on the Thrissur-Ernakulam stretch of National Highway 544, the Supreme Court criticised the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) while considering its plea challenging the Kerala High Court order, suspending toll collection at Paliyekkara in Thrissur district.
The Supreme court highlighted the huge traffic block, which lasted for over 12 hours on this stretch during the last weekend. Even on the previous hearing date (August 14), the bench had expressed reluctance to entertain the petition, asking how the toll can be collected from the commuters when the road is not kept in a motorable condition.
Meanwhile, social media erupted with ‘congratulatory’ messages for the Supreme Court interference in the matter as many hailed that the apex court should direct the state and the central government to stop collecting tolls from the commuters moving through the national highways.
It was on August 6 that the HC ordered a two-week halt on toll collection at Paliyekkara over the lapses of the NHAI in resolving the persistent traffic congestion and poor condition of the Mannuthy-Edappally stretch of the NH 544.
The bench also heard the petition filed by the Guruvayoor Infrastructure Ltd, the concessionaire who is collecting the toll, challenging the High court’s verdict.
When Justice Chandran questioned Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, who was representing the NHAI, about the 12-hour-long traffic block, he defended NHAI by claiming it was an act of God.
"It was an act of God, a lorry fell down," SG said.
"The lorry did not fall down on its own. It fell into a pothole and got turned over,"Justice Chandran said.
SG informed the apex court that the NHAI has constructed the service roads as alternative ways at the places where the construction of underpasses is going on; however, because of the monsoons, the construction was impacted.
"For the 12-hour block, the National Highway should pay something to the commuters," Justice Chandran commented in a lighter vein. "If there is no traffic, it will take a maximum of one hour to cover this stretch. If there is traffic, it will take maximum 3 hours. For 12 hours, there is no question of proportionate reduction," Justice Chandran stated.
