Motorists will have to pay fee again at the Paranur toll plaza in Kancheepuram district with the Madras High Court modifying its last week’s order granting an injunction.
While passing interim orders on a public interest litigation petition on May 15, a Vacation Bench had restrained the toll operator at Paranur from collecting the fee. The petitioner had said the toll plaza was illegal as it had been established within a five km distance from Chengalpattu town.
In its counter filed through senior counsel, P. Wilson, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said the toll plaza had been in existence from 2005. The toll was collected for a distance of 46.50 km and the fixation of toll fee was as per rules. A Vacation Bench, comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and K. Ravichandrabaabu, while permitting the collection of toll fee at the plaza said the collection should be deposited in a separate account.This was because in the event the writ petition was allowed, the fee collected from the users may be returned to them.
