HC Orders Committee to Tackle Traffic Congestion on NH Corridor

Speedy Summary:

• The Kerala High Court has called for a committee to develop an interim traffic management plan for the heavily congested Edapally-Thrissur NH 544 corridor, particularly near the Paliyekkara toll plaza.
• This decision follows a 12-hour-long traffic disruption on this stretch and petitions highlighting severe congestion, especially around construction areas.
• the proposed committee will consult MPs, MLAs, and local authorities before finalizing the plan. Suggestions include restricting heavy vehicle movement during peak daytime hours (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and rerouting them through alternative roads.
• Earlier in August, the High Court ordered the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to suspend toll collection at Paliyekkara toll plaza for four weeks due to recurring traffic snarls in the region.
• The court also directed the Center to take steps within this period to address public grievances regarding poorly managed traffic on this corridor.
• It affirmed that safe and well-maintained roads are part of the right to life under Article 21 of India’s Constitution, placing responsibility on governments for proper road infrastructure.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The Kerala High Court’s intervention emphasizes judicial accountability toward ensuring basic infrastructure standards that align with constitutional rights-specifically Article 21’s provision recognizing safe roads as integral to citizens’ quality of life. By directing NHAI and forming a collaborative decision-making committee involving political representatives and local stakeholders, systemic inefficiencies affecting public convenience are being targeted pragmatically.

Suspending toll collection at Paliyekkara creates immediate economic relief while addressing questions about governance accountability in handling national highway resources. Critical measures like regulating heavy vehicles during daytime could alleviate congestion but must be backed by comprehensive logistics planning. If executed effectively, such corrective action may set precedents nationwide in dealing with infrastructural bottlenecks across urban-commercial corridors.

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