MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court recently advised the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the central and state governments, to take effective steps to ensure that toll plazas are maintained hassle-free and no exemption is granted to any individual or political party in violation of the law.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice N Sathish Kumar made the observations while dismissing a PIL filed by AR Jeyarhuthran, an advocate from Tirunelveli, seeking proper maintenance and upgradation of the above road and to prohibit political, religious, and cultural events, construction of marriage halls, commercial complexes, etc, and revoke licenses or permissions already granted.
The judges observed that the petition is vague, except for a general allegation that a substantial number of vehicles, especially those which form part of political convoys or private individuals, pass through the toll plaza without paying the requisite toll fee.
But NHAI filed a counter affidavit denying the allegations that no such exemption has been granted. It also explained that most of the vehicles are installed with FASTag RFID, and the toll fee is automatically debited from the users ‘ accounts. Moreover, it is the concessionaires who operate the toll plaza, and no financial loss is caused to the government. The concessionaire is strictly complying with all safety requirements for the maintenance of the road stretch, the counter affidavit said.
Recording this, the judges observed that the allegations are unsubstantiated and dismissed the petition with the above observations.