NH-544: Kerala High Court Defers Order On Restoring Paliyekkara Toll Over Reports Of Service Road Collapse

The Kerala High Court has refused to pass orders lifting suspension of toll collection at Paliyekkara Toll Plaza (Thrissur district) on NH 544, citing collapse of a service road at Muringoor.

The Division bench comprising Justice A Muhammed Mustaque and Justice Harisankar V Menon were hearing writ petitions concerning severe traffic congestion in the Mannuthy–Edappally stretch of NH 544, particularly near the Paliyekkara Toll Plaza. 

The Court had initially suspended the toll collection for 4 weeks by an order dated Aug 6, 2025 which was affirmed by the Supreme Court by an order dated 18, August. The Suspension was extended by subsequent orders. 

Earlier, the bench had hinted at lifting the suspension of the toll collection and the matter was listed today for orders. 

However, the bench noted that a service road at Muringoor has collapsed and hence directed the NHAI to submit a report on the same before the District Collector. 

"Today we proposed to pass an order after verifying the report of the interim Management committee. We are deferring passing order in view of intervening factors reporting that Murungoor service road has collapsed which was tarred one week ago." the bench observed. 

An Interim Traffic Management Committee was constituted to devise an interim traffic management plan on the congested stretch in NH 544 and conduct traffic inspection in the stretch. The committee inspected the stretch and pointed issues of uneven surfaces and culvert works. The Court had then directed the NHAI to submit a compliance report to the District Collector and the Interim Committee.

Earlier, the Interim Committee has reported its satisfaction over the work conducted by NHAI in the congested stretch. 

The case is posted on September 25. 

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