Kochi: The High Court has directed the central government to consider implementing the National Highway Authority’s guidelines to allow vehicles in that lane to pass without paying toll if the queue of vehicles exceeds 100 meters in any lane of the toll plaza. A division bench comprising Justice Muhammad Mushtaq and Justice Shobha Annamma Eepan issued the order in an appeal citing the traffic congestion and the delay in clearing the queue of vehicles at Paliekkara Toll Plaza in Thrissur.
Nitin Ramakrishnan, a native of Palakkad, had requested in an appeal to implement the guidelines in the policy circular issued by the National Highway Authority on May 24, 2021, including the service time at the toll plazas. The central government lawyer said that the central government’s explanation will be given on how to allow vehicles to pass through the toll plaza without any hindrance and delay. The National Highways Authority’s circular states that the number of toll booths and lanes should be ensured so that the service time at toll plazas does not take more than 10 seconds even during peak hours. If the queue is more than 100 meters, vehicles should be allowed to pass without toll. This should be done until the queue is within 100 meters. For this, a yellow line should be marked at a distance of 100 meters from the toll booth in every toll lane. The provisions should be displayed in a well visible manner.
English Summary: Kerala HC on toll plaza queue
