The Supreme Court has taken a critical stance against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), expressing strong disapproval regarding the collection of tolls on congested and poorly maintained roads. This action followed complaints from numerous travelers who have been facing extensive delays, particularly on roads affected by recent heavy rainfall in Kerala.
The focus of the court’s scrutiny was the NH-544, specifically the Edappally-Manuthy stretch. The journey time on this route has increased dramatically, with what used to be a one-hour trip now taking as long as 12 hours. Despite these significant delays, the Paliyekkara toll plaza continues to charge motorists ₹150.
The Kerala High Court had earlier intervened, issuing an order to suspend toll collection for a four-week period, due to the substandard road conditions, ongoing repair work, and the resulting traffic gridlock. The NHAI subsequently appealed this decision to the Supreme Court.
During the Supreme Court proceedings, the NHAI argued that an overturned truck caused the congestion, attributing this to an “Act of God.” They also cited the availability of service roads and the impact of heavy rainfall on repair work, suggesting a partial reduction in tolls instead of a full suspension.
The Court, however, was not convinced. Justice Chandran pointed out that if a pothole led to the truck overturning, the incident was a result of inadequate maintenance, not just an act of God. The Chief Justice further questioned the logic of charging the full toll amount for a journey taking many times longer than usual.
The Supreme Court also drew attention to similar traffic challenges in Delhi, where even moderate rainfall frequently leads to city-wide traffic breakdowns, emphasizing a national issue of infrastructural deficiencies. Senior advocate Jayant Mutraj, representing the petitioners, contended that the NHAI had failed in its duties and that continuing to charge tolls on such roads was contrary to public interest. He highlighted that the High Court had only ordered the toll suspension after the NHAI had repeatedly ignored various directives.