The National Highways Authority of India’s delay in completing the widening of the narrow stretches of the Edappally-Mannuthy NH-544 corridor and constructing underpasses and flyovers is continuing to cause traffic snarl-ups. Traffic snarl-up witnessed at Chirangara on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: H. Vibhu
The Kerala High Court’s decision on Friday to lift the more than 70-day ban on toll collection at the Paliyekkara plaza on National Highway-544 has left the petitioners who had moved the court to suspend the toll collection disappointed.
Calling the verdict “disappointing” and “unfair to the public,” they, however, said the suspension period had been “a lesson” for both the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the contractor. They said the judgment overlooked the continuing hardships faced by thousands of commuters using the highway.
Congress leader Shaji J. Kodankandath, one of the petitioners, described the ruling as “deeply disappointing for the people and travellers.” He said they were exploring the scope of moving the Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision to permit toll collection before ensuring safe and smooth passage through the stretch.
“The Supreme Court had earlier made it clear that toll collection is justified only if travel is smooth and safe,” Mr. Kodankandath said. “The court’s latest order seems to ignore that principle.”
The High Court, while allowing the toll collection to resume, has instructed the NHAI to ensure commuter safety and traffic management.
The order came even as the Thrissur-Angamaly stretch of the NH continues to witness heavy congestion due to ongoing construction work and incomplete service roads.
‘Unjustified’
Thrissur District Congress Committee president and fellow petitioner Joseph Tajet said the verdict reflected how both the Union and State governments had “stood together against the people.” “This is not the judgment people hoped for,” Mr. Tajet said. “The lifting of the ban without completing the mandatory repair works is unjustified.”
Mr. Tajet added that the suspension period had been “a lesson” for both the NHAI and the contractor. “The court’s intervention forced the company to start work on the service roads. If the company fails to complete the works in two weeks, the court can very well reinstate the suspension,” he warned.
Youth Congress State president O.J. Janeesh, who filed a Public Interest Litigation, echoed the disappointment. Although the High Court had allowed the resumption of toll collection, its decision not to permit the recently proposed toll hike clearly indicated that the issues raised in the petition still remained valid and unresolved, he said.
The High Court had ordered suspension of toll collection in August after it found that work the stretch remained in complete and and safety conditions poor. The NHAI’s repeated pleas to resume toll collection were rejected by both the High Court and Supreme Court till Friday.
Meanwhile, toll collection resumed amid police security, anticipating protests from commuters and local groups.
Published – October 17, 2025 09:12 pm IST
