Supreme Court Challenges Toll Charges on Gridlocked Kerala Highway

The Supreme Court on Monday queried the rationale behind commuters paying Rs 150 in tolls if it takes 12 hours to travel a 65-kilometer highway in Thrissur, Kerala. The case examines the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and concessionaire against the Kerala High Court's decision to suspend tolls at Paliyekkara plaza.

Chief Justice B R Gavai and fellow justices reserved their verdict after being informed of the 12-hour traffic congestion. The suspension from August 6 was based on the poor state of the Edappally–Mannuthy stretch on NH 544 and the ensuing traffic jams caused by ongoing work.

The NHAI cited rains and construction delays but proposed toll reduction instead. Justice K Vinod Chandran argued against proportional adjustments, calling the ordeal excessive. The concessionaire blamed third-party contractors for road blocks and termed the high court's ruling as unfair, but the court maintained trust was breached due to the maintenance failure.

(With inputs from agencies.)