The Kerala High Court on Thursday extended till September 30 its interim order suspending toll collection at the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) Paliyekkara toll plaza in Thrissur. This followed a submission by the Thrissur District Collector, who heads the interim traffic management committee and appeared online before the court, that heavy traffic congestion persisted still at many places in the 65-km Edappally-Mannuthy NH 544 corridor. There were also safety issues in the form of inadequately barricaded worksites. He said the NHAI had not fully complied with the directions issued, as directed by the court, to ensure safe and smooth traffic flow. The traffic management committee underscored the need for immediate and sustained protective measures such as “effective fall protection systems, proper drainage management, shoring of excavation cuttings, adequate lighting, and provision of high-quality safety installations. Such interventions are critical for preventing further road edge collapses and to ensure the safe movement of traffic.”The committee also emphasised that only the expeditious completion of the underpass construction works can ensure a sustainable and lasting solution to traffic management issues in these critical stretches, following which the court extended the suspension of the toll collection till September 30.The court was hearing petitions by, among others, Thrissur native Shaji J. Kodankandath on the condition of the NH corridor, its service roads and subsequent traffic hold-ups. Published - September 25, 2025 09:28 pm IST