Court says motorists who pay toll had a right to commute through the NH corridor without encountering traffic snarls and potholes

Two days after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) attributed traffic snarls on the Edapally-Paliekkara NH 544 corridor to the works under way to build underpasses at five places, the Kerala High Court has directed the NHAI to take steps to decongest the stretch within a week, failing which collection of toll for the corridor would have to be halted.

The court said that motorists who pay toll had a right to commute through the NH corridor without encountering traffic snarls and potholes.

The case has been posted for hearing on Wednesday (July 16).

The court had stated a month ago that the NHAI was “duty-bound” to ensure safe and smooth travel for motorists and that toll collection should be halted if the agency was unable to provide this.