Supreme Court | Photo: Mathrubhumi
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to consider a petition against the toll collection at Paliyekkara on the Mannuthy-Edappally national highway.
The apex court told petitioners Shaji Kodangedath and T. K. Saneesh Kumar that they can approach the Kerala High Court with the petition. Following this, the petition filed in the SC was withdrawn.
The advocates representing the petitioners said that the Mannuthy-Edappally national highway was built at a cost of Rs 721.174 crore. Toll collection started on February 9, 2012. An TRI response revealed that Rs 801.60 crore has been collected until July 2020.
According to the MOT agreement, once the construction cost has been collected, the toll amount must be reduced by 40 percent. However, this has not been implemented, the petitioners pointed out.
However, the SC bench including Justices Rohinton Nariman, Navin Sinha and K. M. Joseph said that the matter must be considered by the High Court first. If needed, the petitioners can approach the HC.