HC asks NHAI to collect 50% toll at two plazas till March 11

Chennai: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) can collect only 50% of the toll from vehicles at two plazas on the Maduravoyal-Ranipet section on Chennai-Bengaluru route till March 11, as the Madras high court has refused to vacate its interim orders to that effect.
Rejecting the NHAI plea, a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice A A Nakkiran said, “For the past 13 years, the stretch of the highway has not been re-laid and only patch work done,” and extended the stay till March 11.
It was on December 13, 2020 that the bench ordered NHAI to collect only 50% in view of bad road conditions on the stretch for years together. As the order was for two weeks, the NHAI started collecting full toll after two-week period.
On Friday, however, the judges extended the 50% toll-only order till March 11, and pointed out that even lights and road markings have not been provided in the stretch. They said: “Do you (NHAI) mean to say people must travel in the stretch only when the sun is out? It is your (NHAI) consistent stand that you will not re-lay the road since expansion of the stretch into 6-lane is in progress. But we cannot accept such a stand.”
Earlier, filing a status report on behalf of NHAI, assistant solicitor-general of India G Karthikeyan said, “immediate action is being taken to close potholes and undertake repair/renewal works without any delay.”