The Kerala High Court has prolonged its temporary halt on toll collection at the Paliyekkara plaza in Thrissur, with the suspension now set to last until September 30th. This decision was made after the Thrissur District Collector, leading the interim traffic management committee, informed the court that the 65-kilometer Edappally-Mannuthy NH 544 corridor continues to suffer from severe traffic jams and hazardous construction zones.
The District Collector highlighted the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) failure to fully implement court-ordered measures aimed at ensuring smooth and safe traffic flow. The traffic management committee stressed the urgent need for robust safety interventions, including ‘effective fall protection systems, proper drainage management, shoring of excavation cuttings, sufficient lighting, and the installation of high-quality safety equipment.’ These steps are deemed crucial to prevent further road collapses and guarantee the safe passage of vehicles.
Ultimately, the committee asserted that a permanent solution to the persistent traffic problems on these critical stretches hinges on the swift completion of the ongoing underpass construction projects. Prompted by these serious concerns, the court decided to extend the toll suspension.
This judicial intervention stems from petitions filed by individuals like Thrissur resident Shaji J. Kodankandath, who brought attention to the deteriorating state of the national highway, its service roads, and the resulting traffic gridlock.