New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has voiced sharp criticism over toll collection at Paliyekkara, questioning the logic of charging motorists for traversing a severely deteriorated road. During proceedings, the bench asked the Centre why citizens should pay tolls for a stretch plagued by potholes, traffic snarls, and unfinished construction.
The toll-operating contractors defended themselves, claiming that the responsibility for strengthening the service roads lies with the PST company overseeing construction. They argued that revenue losses cannot justify penalizing commuters for delays caused by infrastructure shortcomings and stressed that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should be held accountable. The contractors also sought a stay on the High Court order, emphasizing that delays in completing road works were not their fault.
The Supreme Court pressed the contractors on whether tolls had been collected during the problematic period, signaling that accountability extends beyond construction responsibility. Meanwhile, the NHAI’s appeal for an interim order has been deferred, as the court weighed the larger issues of public inconvenience and administrative oversight.
Highlighting the poor state of the Mannuthi–Edappally National Highway, the bench expressed concern over extreme delays, noting that a journey that should normally take one hour was stretching to twelve hours on Sundays. The court cited incidents including a lorry plunging into a ditch, which compounded traffic jams and disrupted the flow of vehicles.
The NHAI responded by asserting that only three blocks were affected due to ongoing flyover construction and that service roads had been provided. Yet the Supreme Court’s remarks underscored a stark contrast between official assurances and the lived experience of motorists, pointing to systemic issues in highway management, construction oversight, and toll regulation.
With public frustration mounting over safety hazards, prolonged travel times, and the ethics of toll collection on substandard infrastructure, the Supreme Court’s intervention signals an intensified scrutiny on both contractors and government agencies responsible for national highway upkeep. Commuters and transporters now await decisive action to ensure that roads and toll policies align with both safety and fairness.