The Kerala High Court in the case Nithin Ramakrishnan V Union Of India observed and has asked the Centre to consider allowing vehicles to pass through toll booths without paying toll when the queue of vehicles is long during busy hours of traffic.
The Division bench comprising of Justice A.Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen in the case observed and has asked the Union Government for considering the giving retrospective effect to the Policy Circular dated 24.5.2021 of the NHAI Policy Guidelines or Management of Plaza, 2021, wherein providing the court for lifting of the boom barrier to allow free flow of traffic anytime the queue of vehicles in any lanes which became longer than 100 meters.
It has been observed by the bench that as per the circular this free flow of traffic will be allowed without collecting toll amount till the queue comes within 100 meters.
However, the court was considering an appeal which is filed wherein the issue of traffic blocks are being highlighted as the same being during the busy hours of the day caused which being due to long queues at toll booths. The court while taking a note of the inconvenience being faced by persons, as they have to wait in long queues to get through toll booths during peak hours of traffic.
It has been stated by the court that it being a high time that in the era of technology, traffic is being cleared through technology enabled devices for smooth passage of traffic.