Madurai: The Madras high court on Friday ordered a notice to NHAI and concessionaires on a plea seeking a direction to suspend the toll collection at Salaipudur and Nanguneri toll plazas till repair works are carried out on the damaged stretch of the road in the Madurai-Kanyakumari highway.
A division bench of Justice S S Sundar and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy ordered notice while hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate V Maharajan, of Madurai district.
The petitioner stated that Madurai-Kanyakumari National Highway acts is an important road linking the southern districts. Two toll plazas — the Salaipudur toll plaza at Kayathar in Tuticorin district and the Nanguneri toll plaza in Tirunelveli district — are situated on the road. The road was opened for the public in 2009. Since then, it has not been relayed and only patch works were done. The 54-km stretch road is filled with cracks and potholes. Construction works for two bridges have been underway for the past three years. Accidents are reported on a daily basis on the road, he stated.
The petitioner said he had submitted a representation to the authorities seeking to suspend the toll collection at the two plazas till repair works are completed. Since no step has been taken by the authorities, the petitioner moved the Madurai bench of Madras high court seeking relief.
