NH-544: Kerala High Court Directs NHAI To Address Road Safety Issues Pointed By Interim Panel

The Kerala High Court on Monday (03 November) directed the National Highway Authority of India to ensure that the road safety issues, pointed out by the Interim Committee constituted by it, are addressed in a time bound manner and to report compliance to the Committee within two weeks.

The division bench comprising Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Harisankar V Menon gave the direction while considering the writ petition regarding traffic congestion on NH-544.

Previously, toll collection was suspended on Paliyekkara plaza on the highway, following a 12-hour blockade purportedly due to ongoing construction projects sanctioned by NHAI.

An Interim Traffic Management Committee was then constituted to devise an interim traffic management plan on the congested stretch.

The suspension was further extended by subsequent orders due to the continued congestion in the stretch. The suspension was finally lifted on October 17, after recording the assurance of the Additional Solicitor General that the safety concerns would be resolved without any delay.  

When the matter was taken up today, the District Collector submitted that the safety concerns which were flagged earlier, which included the safety concerns due to deep excavation, existed in the stretch.

The Court thus directed NHAI to ensure the compliance with the earlier orders and ensure that the safety issues pointed out by the Interim Committee are addressed in a time bound manner.

Case Title - Shaji J Kodankadath v Union of India and connected cases

Case No - WP(C) 20253/2021 and connected cases

Counsel for Petitioners - K B Gangesh, Smitha Chathanarambath, Amal S Kumar, Athira A Menon, John Varghese, V Praveen, Sonu Augustine, Premchand M, Sreelakshmi Sabu, P K Subhash, Anoop V Nair, Tanoosha Paul

Counsel for Respondents - O M Shalina (DSG), Nanavati Maulik G, Arun Thomas, Jennis Stephen, Anil Sebastian Pulickel, P Martin Jose, P Prijith, Thomas P Kurivila, Ajay Ben Jose, Manjunath Menon, Hani P Nair, R Githesh, Sachin Jacob Ambat, Anna Lind Eden, Harikrishnan S, Mathews K Philip, T C Krishna, C Dinesh, B G Bidan Chandran, Mathews Nevin Thomas, Kurian Antony Mathew, R Githesh, Sachin Jacob Ambat, N Manoj Kumar (State Attorney), C Harikumar, Sandra Sunny, Arun Kumar M A, Farah Jyothi Pradeep, Anavadya Sanil Kumar, Anjali Krishna 

Click Here To Read/ Download Interim Order