Kochi | The Kerala High Court on Wednesday declined to stay toll collection at the Nattika plaza on National Highway 66 after the NHAI and the Centre submitted that the fee was being collected only for the completed portion of the road.
Counsel for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways told a bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M that 51 km of the 60-km Kappirikkad-Kodungallur stretch in Thrissur district had been completed.
"Only one flyover and two viaducts remain to be completed. The toll is being collected only for the completed portion," the counsel said.
He submitted that toll collection should begin within 45 days of the issuance of the completion certificate, as the project was funded by public money.
In view of the submissions, the bench sought responses from the ministry, the NHAI and the Keralam government on a public interest litigation challenging toll collection at the Nattika toll plaza.
The court declined to grant an interim stay, observing that people were already using and benefiting from the completed 51-km stretch. The matter was posted for further hearing on November 4.
The order came on a PIL filed by Anil Kumar P K, who contended that toll was being collected before the entire stretch was completed.
The toll plaza has witnessed intense protests by political parties opposing the collection of toll.
Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan had said in the state Assembly on Tuesday that the state government would intervene in the matter. He said the District Collector had been instructed to hold discussions with all stakeholders to arrive at a decision.
"We can examine the complaints of the people and take a decision," he had said.
