Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to submit a report on the slow progress of construction work on the Kochi Mannuthi-Edappally section of the underpass, particularly Amballur, Perambra, Muringoor, Koratty and Chirangara.

The order was passed by a division bench comprising Justice A Muhammad Mushtaq and Justice Harishankar V Menon.

The court has also asked the contractor responsible for the project to provide an explanation for the delays. The petitions were adjourned for further consideration on Tuesday. An interim monitoring committee, led by the Thrissur Collector, who appeared online, told the court that maintenance work, which began in September 2024, is proceeding at a very slow pace.

Petitioners have raised concerns that contractors collecting tolls at the Paliyekkara toll plaza in the name of road construction have exceeded permissible limits, and they sought a court order to halt toll collection immediately. The petitions were filed by Thrissur DCC President Joseph Tajet, along with Congress leaders Shaji Kodakandath, OJ Janeesh, and others.