‘Open the gates’: Dramatic scenes as Suresh Gopi confronts Paliyekkara toll plaza traffic

Thrissur: Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Sunday intervened at the Paliyekkara toll plaza in Thrissur after witnessing a long queue of vehicles waiting to cross the toll gates.

According to police, Suresh Gopi was travelling from Thrissur towards Ernakulam when he encountered traffic queues extending for more than two kilometres on both sides of the toll plaza. Paliyekkara is located on the Kochi-Salem National Highway and falls within Gopi’s Lok Sabha constituency.

Suresh Gopi’s escort vehicle was able to move through the traffic towards the toll plaza. However, after reaching the toll booths, the Union minister got out of his vehicle and directed the operators to open all the gates. His security personnel also joined the effort, and the toll gates were opened to allow vehicles to move through.

Police said the traffic queue was cleared in around half an hour, after which Suresh Gopi resumed his journey.

Suresh Gopi later said he intervened after seeing the extent of the congestion and described the situation as a matter of public concern. He said toll operators could not simply be blamed for delays because they were required to collect tolls, but argued that authorities should intervene when queues become excessively long.

He also referred to legal guidelines concerning long queues at toll plazas and said that factors such as fuel wastage, emissions and the time spent by motorists in stationary traffic should be taken into account.

The minister suggested that district administrations and local authorities should coordinate with police and take action at toll plazas on days when heavy traffic is expected.

Paliyekkara has previously faced criticism over congestion and toll-related issues. The toll plaza has been the subject of legal and public scrutiny over traffic management and toll collection.

Suresh Gopi also acknowledged that motorists may have been unhappy when his convoy moved through the traffic. He said he was aware of the resentment but felt that opening the toll gates ultimately provided relief to commuters who had been stuck in the queue.

The incident comes amid wider concerns over road traffic and infrastructure in Thrissur. On Sunday, Suresh Gopi also criticised authorities over road-safety issues following a fatal accident in Kaipamangalam in which eight students from Tamil Nadu were killed. He said he had warned the National Highways Authority of India and called for stronger enforcement and monitoring on highways.