Supreme Court Upholds Toll Suspension: Prioritizing Citizens Over Revenue

The Supreme Court dismissed pleas to overturn a Kerala High Court's order suspending toll collection in Thrissur due to poor road conditions and prolonged public inconvenience. Emphasizing citizen rights, the court maintained that road users deserve safe and unhindered access as they have already paid taxes.

The Supreme Court has dismissed appeals from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and a concessionaire against a Kerala High Court's decision to halt toll collection at a Thrissur plaza for four weeks. The court highlighted citizen rights, emphasizing that public inconvenience must not be ignored for commercial benefits.

Justices observed that the public's obligation to pay tolls implies the right to expect unhindered and safe roads. Failure by authorities to ensure this was deemed a breach of the public trust, reaffirming that the financial model cannot surpass citizen welfare when infrastructure fails.

The apex court recognized the necessity of the high court's ruling, amid enduring traffic chaos and road neglect. Traffic flow improvement must precede any toll collection resumption. The court advised continued oversight by the high court to ensure traffic ease, reflecting ongoing concern for citizen welfare over revenue collection.